DIET AND DENTAL DECAY

What you need to know.

DENTAL PLAQUE + SUGAR in DIET PRODUCE ACIDS, THESE IN TURN CAUSE DENTAL DECAY.

What is Plaque?
Plaque is a soft film of bacteria that is constantly forming on all teeth.

Where does plaque come from?
Everyone's saliva contains millions of bacteria. These bacteria stick to the surfaces of our teeth and quickly multiply to form layers of plaque.

What does plaque look like?
Plaque is a soft, colourless substance which is difficult to see until the coating is quite thick. It collects on the surfaces of teeth mainly next to the gums and between the teeth.

What does plaque do?
Sugars in our diet are rapidly converted to acid by the bacteria in plaque. Sugars also promote the growth of plaque. This becomes a vicious circle. Plaque also helps to hold the acids in contact with the teeth causing further tooth destruction.

What are Dietary Sugars?
Nearly three-quarters of all sugars consumed in the UK diet are added during manufacture, processing, cooking (hidden sugars) or before consumption i.e. table sugar. Confectionery, soft drinks, cakes, biscuits and table sugars (in tea and coffee) are often consumed as snacks and their frequent consumption is strongly linked to decay. The remaining sugars are naturally present in foods such as milk, fruit and vegetables and they are unimportant as a cause of decay.

What is Dental Decay?
The process of caries begins with a small patch of softened enamel at the tooth surface, often hidden from sight in the fissures or between the teeth. The destruction spreads into the dentine (the softer, sensitive part of the tooth beneath the enamel). The weakened enamel then collapses to form a cavity and the tooth is progressively destroyed.

The Dental Practice recommends the following to all its patients; adults and children:

1- Tooth cleaning: brush teeth effectively twice every day with a fluoride toothpaste. Use of floss/tape, from age of twelve, between teeth is beneficial as well.

2- Diet: reduce the consumption and especially the frequency of intake of sugar-containing food and drinks.

3- Dental attendance: everyone, irrespective of age and dental condition, should attend regularly for oral and dental examination. Other disorders can occur in the mouth, which are unrelated to teeth and gums, and which may be life threatening.