According to the World Health Organization, oral health and diet are linked in a number of ways. Poor nutrition can affect craniofacial development, the onset of oral infectious diseases and put you at risk for oral cancer. By far the most influence your diet has on your oral health, however, is in the way the foods you eat contribute to the development of dental caries, better known as cavities.
Dental Cavities
The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that, of common disorders, tooth decay is second in prevalence only to the common cold. While often seen in children and young adults, tooth decay can happen at any time in the life cycle. Decay is irreversible because teeth, unlike other bones in the body, are not constantly remodeled and maintained through mineralization. The bacteria that are present in every human mouth are responsible, in part, for converting all foods into acids. When these acids mix with more bacteria, saliva and food particles, plaque is created. Plaque adheres to your teeth; the acids in plaque dissolve the enamel, or protective outer coating, of your teeth. This can cause holes, or cavities, to develop. You generally don't notice cavities forming and growing larger until the decay reaches a nerve ending, causing mouth pain.
Sugars and Starches
Sugars and other simple carbohydrates are most readily turned into acids by the bacteria in your mouth. Consuming high amounts of sugars or frequent snacking can increase the likelihood of cavities developing in your teeth. Eating sticky foods, such as dried fruit or chewy candies, can increase the risk of cavities because these foods stay in contact with your teeth longer than nonsticky foods. Acidic foods can also pose a risk to teeth. Carbonated soda beverages, with their one-two punch of sugars and citric acids, have been linked to increased risk of tooth decay, according to the Academy of General Dentistry, and should be replaced with nutritional beverages or water, when feasible.
Positive Diet Contributions
In addition to avoiding sticky, sugary or acidic foods and beverages, adding healthy foods to your diet can reduce your risk of tooth decay and dental cavities. A 1994 study from the Department of Cariology at Umea University in Sweden concluded that cheese and milk products decrease the risk of developing cavities, likely due to the presence of calcium phosphate in these foods. Calcium and phosphate are natural tooth building blocks and appear to offer protection against tooth decay. Foods that require lots of chewing stimulate the production of saliva, which can help wash away harmful acids. For this reason, fruits and vegetables are an important part of your healthy teeth diet. Chewing sugarless gum at the end of a meal can serve the same purpose, helping to keep your mouth clean in between brushing.
Developing Countries
The prevalence of dental cavities in developed countries remains relatively stable, while cavities are becoming more common in developing countries. The World Health Organization, or WHO, notes that this increase is likely a result of more access to foods with added sugars, including sodas and candies, as well as general malnutrition. Starchy, staple foods, on the other hand, such as root vegetables and grains, and fruits, which contain high levels of fructose, are associated with few instances of dental cavities. The WHO recommends that developing countries educate their citizens to consume low levels of processed sugars and acids, limiting such foods to less than four times a day.
References
- World Health Organization; "Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Dental Diseases"; Paula Moynihan et al.
- "Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine"; "Diet and the Prevention of Dental Caries"; M.N. Naylor; 1986
- University of Maryland Medical Center; "Dental Cavities"; December 2008
- National Institutes of Health; "Dental Cavities"; February 2010
- Academy of General Dentistry; "What Foods Causes Tooth Decay in Children?"; February 2007
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; "Diet and Dental Caries"; I. Johansson et al.; 1994
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