The Relationship Between Cavites and Foods

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Matthews, North Carolina, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) June 9, 2011 -- Bacteria—the Cause of Cavities
Our mouths are full of hungry bacteria which, after we eat or drink, mix with saliva and left-over food particles to form a protein -rich goo that settles on our teeth. This is what is known as plaque. The bacteria devour the food particles in the plaque and leave behind acid as a by-product of their feasting. This acid is what eats into our tooth enamel to create cavities. The longer foods high in sugar are left on our teeth, the more energy the bacteria have to grow and multiply, and the greater the likelihood of tooth decay.

Foods That Cling:
These foods are harder for our saliva to wash away, giving bacteria a chance to grow and produce acids that break down the tooth enamel. Here are some examples:
* Milk and Ice cream create a film not easily broken down by saliva.
* Although healthy for you, raisins and other dried fruits tend to stick in the crevices of your back teeth and are not easily washed away.
* Cereal-- and not just the pre-sweetened stuff! When mixed with milk, dry cereal creates a paste that tends to settle into the crevices of our teeth and harden there.

* Bananas contain three types of sugar--fructose, glucose, and sucrose. While this makes the banana a great source of usable energy for your body, bacteria in your mouth find them to be a super energy source as well.
* Crackers, like cereal, tend to collect into the nooks and crannies of your teeth.
* Peanut butter on white bread is a double whammy. For many of us, there’s almost nothing better than a peanut butter sandwich. This childhood staple, however, is bacteria’s dream snack. The carbohydrates in white bread start to break down into sugar almost immediately in the mouth; and mixed with saliva, white bread becomes almost like modeling clay, sticking well to teeth. Peanut butter, though a tasty source of protein, forms a sticky film on teeth that bacteria love, too!

* Chips and pretzels are favorite snack foods that get ground into the back teeth and tend to stay put.

Natural Tooth Cleaners:
There’s good news! The staff at South Charlotte Dentistry will tell you that, just as there are a number of foods known to promote tooth decay; these tasty foods have natural cleaning agents for the teeth:
* Fruits rich in vitamin C-- like lemons, limes, papayas, mangoes and kiwi, naturally clean the teeth, and at the same time, cut down on the amount of bacteria in your mouth. Yay!

How to Prevent Cavities:

Dr. Wells does not expect you to give up any foods you love. He just urges you to use common sense. Brushing as soon as possible after eating any sugary, starchy, or sticky foods will go a long way towards preventing cavities. If brushing immediately is not an option, at least make sure to drink plenty of water to help wash away the bacteria’s energy source and neutralize the acid. A dessert of fresh mango or papaya may be worth a try as well! And of course, he would like to see you regularly in his Ballantyne office for professional cleanings and checkups. http://southcharlottedentistry.com/contact.aspx

Dr. James A. Wells’ practice, South Charlotte Dentistry,(http://southcharlottedentistry.com/staff.asp) offers the highest level of specialized services, such as Intraoral Cameras, Ultra Suction, and Digital X-rays, which all play a major role in oral healthcare. (http://southcharlottedentistry.com/services.asp) Prevention is the key to avoiding tooth decay. In the event a checkup does reveal some decay, Dr. Wells and his staff offer the most advanced treatment options, including tooth colored fillings.

To learn more about Dr. James A. Wells and South Charlotte dentistry, or to make an appointment, please visit our website at http://southcharlottedentistry.com/index.asp or call the office at 704-759-0908. They look forward to hearing from you!

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