Every certified dental professional will advise their patients to avoid certain foods and snacks as much as possible. This is because certain foods are known to be key factors in the development of a tooth cavity and the subsequent tooth decay that comes with them. Tooth decay and cavity are very costly, not only in terms of pain and discomfort but also in treating them. Depending on the number of teeth affected and the extent of tooth decay, you can fork out anywhere between $400 and $2500. However, you can find an affordable dentist for smiles by design in California. This ensures that you preserve what’s left of your decayed teeth while getting a good smile.
Diet and Dental Health
What you eat has a significant bearing on your health. Whether it’s having lean muscles or strong bones, nutrition is important. However, most people ignore the impact of good nutrition (or lack thereof) on healthy teeth and overall oral health.
Right from childhood, the teeth need to develop well. Ensuring this involves doing several things. Chief among them is good nutrition in the form of a balanced diet. Calcium is a key natural element that is crucial to the development of strong bones and teeth. Foods like milk, cheese, and green leafy vegetables are good sources of calcium. The enamel is the hard outer part of the tooth, conferring protection and rigidity to its internal parts. Calcium is crucial to its proper development during childhood. This is why children should be encouraged to consume such foods in abundance to aid their dental development.
The causative agents for tooth decay are bacteria. These microorganisms, while found on nearly every body surface, are especially abundant in the mouth. Keeping their population in check is one of the key things that proper dental hygiene accomplishes. These bacteria can cause tooth decay by their chemical actions on the food particles that remain in the mouth after a meal. These bacteria love to break down sugars. The resultant chemicals, some of which are corrosive, are responsible for gradually eroding the enamel. With time, this erosion finds its way into internal tooth structures like the dentine and pulp cavity. This is when a tooth cavity becomes manifest, producing pain.
Carbohydrates like bread and rice are broken down by bacteria, resulting in some of the substances responsible for tooth decay. However, sugary foods are much more favored by bacteria. That’s why consuming things like candy and chocolates consistently without proper brushing of teeth makes it more likely that an individual will develop cavities. This is because increased bacterial action on the remnants of such foods in the mouth produces tooth decay quicker than when other types of foods are consumed.
In addition to sugary foods, acidic foods also create a conducive environment for bacterial action leading to tooth decay. Foods like citrus fruits and canned beverages like soft drinks are prime examples of acidic foods to avoid.
Genetic Predisposition to Tooth Decay
Everybody probably knows that one person, whether a family member or an acquaintance, just doesn’t seem to get tooth decay despite being in the habit of consuming chocolates and ice cream generously. For most people, such consumption of sugary foods will result in frequent instances of tooth cavities.
Increasing research into this issue attributes the lack of cavities by such individuals to their genetic makeup. Genes are hereditary materials found in all organisms, including human beings. They are responsible for most of the physical and biochemical body characteristics. They determine how body parts will appear.
A theory to support the importance of genes in warding off tooth decay is related to the enamel. Like all other body parts, the enamel develops as a result of the “instructions” in the genetic makeup. While the enamel is relatively robust in most individuals, others have an unusually thicker one that can better withstand the onslaught of the corrosive chemicals produced in the mouth by bacterial action. However, it does not mean that such individuals are completely safe from cavities. However, with proper dental hygiene practices and the occasional dental visit, such individuals can get to old age without developing cavities.
Ultimately, not many people are blessed with the genes that confer a more robust enamel. However, regular individuals can be just as successful at keeping tooth cavities at bay. While it may seem cliché, good dental hygiene and regular dental visits can help significantly mitigate the cases of tooth cavities.
