Holiday food and drinks are not just an assault on the waistline; they can also attack your teeth. Everyone knows sugars are commonly associated with dental cavities. Other carbohydrates, especially cooked starches, such as in pasta or chips, may also damage teeth, although to a much lesser degree.
Sucrose (table sugar) is most commonly associated with cavities, although glucose and maltose can also cause damage. There are also sugars found in fresh fruit and fruit juices. These foods (oranges, lemons, limes, apples, etc.) also contain acids, which lower the pH level of the mouth.
However, the amount of sugar consumed at any one time is less important than how often food and drinks that contain sugar are consumed. The more frequently sugars are eaten or drunk, the greater the time during which the tooth is exposed to low pH levels, at which point demineralization occurs. It is important, therefore, to try to infrequently consume food and drinks containing sugar so that the teeth have a chance to repair themselves. Obviously, limiting sugar-containing foods and drinks to meal times is one way to reduce the incidence of cavities.
Another factor which affects the risk of developing cavities is the stickiness of foods. Some foods or sweets may stick to the teeth and thus reduce the pH in the mouth for an extended time, particularly if they are sugary. Especially, during the holidays, brush teeth at least twice a day to remove any food sticking to the teeth.
An added suggestion would be to rinse with ACT, a fluoride mouth rinse or Carifree with Xylitol (a surfactant that makes your teeth slippery to bacteria preventing them from sticking). These products can speed up remineralization providing a stonger defense against the suger filled holidays. Have a good one!
Kimberly Rosen has been practicing dentistry in the Santa Clarita Valley for 15 years. For more information, please call 661-255-2545.