Plaque,
that sticky film of food and bacteria that forms on your teeth after you
eat, can cause trouble in your mouth. Cavities, periodontal (gum)
disease, bad breath…none are pleasant company for your teeth.
When
you're trying to minimize plaque, you need to think not only about what
you eat, but about how you eat!
How
often you eat:
Each time you eat a carbohydrate-containing food, acids are released. The
more frequently carbohydrates are consumed, the more chances acid has to
damage your teeth.
Characteristics
of the food:
Some foods, like crackers and potato
chips, stick to grooves in the teeth. Raisins, fruit rolls and fruit
snacks, and "Gummi" candies are also notorious tooth-stickers.
The
length of time that food remains in the mouth:
Foods
that are slow to dissolve, such as cookies and granola bars, give acids
more time to work on destroying tooth enamel.
Whether
or not the food is eaten as part of a meal:
Sticky or high-carbohydrate foods
create less acid when they are eaten as part of a meal. That’s because
saliva production increases at mealtime, and saliva not only rinses away
food particles, but also neutralizes acid and helps to re-mineralize
teeth. Beverages also help rinse away food particles.
After
you eat, it is important to clean food debris off your teeth as best you
can. Ideally, this means to clean them by flossing or
brushing. But since that is not always possible, try one of these
temporary tooth-cleaners:
·
Chew a piece of
sugarless gum. This will increase saliva production which in turn will
help rinse food particles off teeth.
·
Rinse with
fluoride solution for about one minute.
·
Rinse your
mouth thoroughly with water.
Sources: The Academy
of General Dentistry
The American Dental Association
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