Updated: 6th April 2008

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Nutrition and Dental Health

Mouth hygiene can affect the whole body.

Floss and brush regularly and at 55 you will be four years younger than someone with advanced gum disease.

British adults on average suffer three days of dental pain a year which can easily be avoided.

Oral health can be maintained through dietary and other means. It is desirable to retain your teeth for life, not only because of the dietary restrictions of tooth loss but also for aesthetic purposes and general well being.

As teeth are lost and thorough chewing becomes difficult, even with dentures, hard foods like fruit, raw vegetables, cheese and meat are eaten less often. Boiled fish and potatoes become a preferred food!

The two main causes of tooth loss are dental caries and periodontal disease (periodontitis); the development of both is influenced by food and nutrients in the diet.

Dental caries is produced by the relationship between sugars in the diet, the presence of plaque, saliva flow, availability of fluoride and the strength of the teeth.

There are many foods which are non-cariogenic, posing little threat to dental health: there are also foods which have anticariogenic properties, conveying protection to the teeth. Fluoride is the most protective factor obtained from toothpaste, mouthrinses and supplements (not strictly dietary). Milk and cheese contain protective factors against dental caries and fibrous foods which require thorough chewing stimulate saliva. Reduction of sugars intake, especially the frequency of intake is an important goal.

Periodontal disease first manifests as gingivitis - inflammation of the gums. Regular tooth brushing reduces the volume of plaque which is the main causative factor in gum disease and adequate intakes of the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E and folate will maintain gum health.

Gum disease loosens teeth but can also impair immunity and make you more vulnerable to arterial disease.

The most important factor of the diet with leads to dental caries is the frequency of consumption of sweet, sticky foods including fruit drinks, snack foods like crisps, sweets and fruit especially inbetween main meals.

Chewing sugar-free gum stimulates saliva which cleans the teeth and careful brushing at the end of the day before going to bed are important in preventing dental decay.