Sugar and caries
Caries is nothing but an infection caused by certain microorganisms that populate the oral cavity.
As the development and proliferation of these bacteria is favored by the residues of food that remain in the interstices between the teeth, it is important to assign a proper oral hygiene adequate.
To figure out which foods are permitted and those to be consumed in moderation must first have in mind the formation mechanism of caries:
The bacteria live in colonies located on the outer wall of the teeth, forming the so-called plaque. Like all living organisms including bacteria need food to survive. For this reason, find fertile ground in the food wastes that remain between the teeth.
In particular nutrients for the bacteria are the sugars that are used and converted into lactic acid, a waste product that can erode the enamel and cause dental caries.
Food sugars therefore have a crucial role in the formation of cavities. The higher the retention of these foods in the oral cavity, the greater the risk of developing this disease.
Starting from these two key considerations can draw a set of rules that food is well respected:
Limit the consumption of sugar: more cryogenic sugars are the simple ones, such as sucrose, glucose and the derivatives industry. However, it is not sufficient to limit the direct taking of sugar to prevent tooth decay. Today, the sucrose has become the essential ingredient in many foods. It is found in soft drinks, in confectionery, in Pastine and even breakfast cereals. Limiting the consumption of sweeteners is therefore a little control. Not only sugar: If it is true that the simple sugars are quickly used by the bacterial flora is equally true that foods containing complex carbohydrates can be equally hazardous. According to the latest research seems that it is more important than time spent on food in the mouth of the quantity of sugar in it.
Sugar foods may be consumed with a certain freedom provided that they are followed by an oral cleaning. It ‘also very important that power is balanced and that brings all the vitamins and minerals needed to ensure the health of dental tissues (calcium, magnesium fluoride and phosphorus in the first place).
Avoid the food “Appicicosi” sugar foods that tend to stick to teeth as the caramel is very dangerous because, as we have seen in the preceding paragraph, remain longer in the oral cavity teeth exposing the attack of acids.
Not fruit juice: the bad habit of sucking sweets or chocolates between meals and the other is a major risk factor, and because in this way increase the time spent sugar in the mouth, is difficult because they are followed by an oral hygiene.
Via free to polyalcohol and all other non-cryogenic sugar: in nature there are power-cryogenic sugars with very low or absent, others are being reproduced in a laboratory-made.
Among the more popular it is good to remember fructose and polyols. They include a lower calorie sugar, and away the danger of diabetes and obesity. But not be toxic if consumed in excess have a laxative effect.
Curiously some of these sweeteners perform even a positive effect on hearing. Consider, for example, with xylitol and with its strong antibacterial activity is able to prevent tooth decay.
Attention to your children: until the end of adolescence is more exposed to the risk of tooth decay for both constitutional factors (minor dental mineralization) and food (greater propensity to consume sugar).
At a young age is more marked sensitivity to the sweet taste, driven and amplified by the food industry that offers food very appetizing, but also very sugary. It is estimated that within 6 years of age, nearly two thirds of children develop at least one cavity.
The parents can try to educate the palate of the child by reducing the sugar content in foods made at home. In any case, without depriving the child too, it is essential to impose and teach the importance of proper oral hygiene.
Accustomed palate: the sensitivity and preference to the taste of sweet or salty may be educated. This process usually takes place spontaneously with age. No coincidence that data in hand, after forty years the probability of developing cavities decreases.
Even The Water Can ‘Help: Some common Italians had the bright idea of adding fluoride to’ drinking water. This mineral has a protective action on the teeth with calcium because it forms a very strong substance, which is deposited as coatings on the surface of the tooth protect them from attack. Tea, cereals and food of marine origin are good sources of fluoride. It should however be careful not to abuse it, because its excess can be as harmful, or perhaps more, of a defect. For this reason, the opportunity to add fluoride to water mineral is quite controversial.
Mastic that it is good: The mineralization of teeth is stimulated by mechanical stress of chewing. Today between juices, teas, soups and smoothies stimuli on the teeth are smaller than before. Especially during the period of growth should therefore be chewing coach, is to strengthen the teeth, and is to improve the functionality masticator.
Cosa ne dite a chewing gum? Although chewing gum can not and must not replace the cleaning of the teeth with toothbrush and floss may have some usefulness in the prevention of caries. Preferred those containing protective substances such as fluoride or xylitol, obviously to avoid those containing sugar.
The chewing of chewing gum stimulates salivation, which, as we know, contains antibacterial substances and stimulates the pH balance of oral alkalinization.
Summarizing the contents of this article we can conclude by stating that: “A ‘healthy nutrition and balanced associated with good oral hygiene is the best way to protect your teeth and remove the risk of tooth decay“