Mangat Dental Center in San Jose

Dental Health and Your Diet

When bacteria is present in the mouth, the main cause of dental decay is sugar. The frequency of consumption is more significant than the amount of sugar you ingest.

The worst thing you can do to your smile is drink a soda and have a sip every few minutes over a long period of time; the same is true of snacking. If you do want to have a snack, soda, or juice, it is best to have it after food, such as dessert, or enjoy it in one sitting. Eating or drinking something sweet over an extended period of time creates a constant supply of sugar for the bacteria that causes tooth decay!

It is important to be aware of all the sources of sugar out there. It is not just everything sweet, but rather anything the body converts to sugar, like a piece of bread. Cutting down on sugar intake is great for cavity prevention, as well as your general health.

If you do have sugar, the best way to avoid cavities is to prevent the sugar from staying next to your teeth. Brushing after eating, rinsing your mouth with Fluoride mouth wash, or chewing sugarless gum can help. However, nothing has the effect of avoiding sugar!

Is there any kind of food that prevents tooth decay? Well, not really. Some people believed that chewing foods like apples and carrots may have some plaque removal effect, but they still contain some sugar so the advantage is unclear.

Another group of food that causes significant damage to teeth are acidic foods. If in frequent contact with teeth, foods like lime, lemon, and grapefruit can cause serious irreversible damage (erosion) to your teeth.

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