Health and Wellbeing

Dental Health - Keeping you smiling!

The maintenance of our teeth and gums is essential at all stages of life, assisting us to eat, drink, talk and socialise. A combination of good dental practices along with ‘tooth-friendly’ food choices assist in achieving optimum oral health.

Dental Care

The introduction of good dental practices should be encouraged from a young age.

General Guidelines for Babies' and Children:

  • Use water and a soft toothbrush to clean young children’s teeth, do not use toothpaste for children under two years of age.
  • From the age of two to seven parents should supervise tooth brushing with a pea-sized amount of fl uoridated toothpaste, assisting when required.
  • Sweet drinks should not be served in a baby’s bottle.
  • Avoid dipping soothers in sugar, honey or jam.

General Guidelines:

  • Brush teeth at least twice daily using fl uoridated toothpaste.
  • Replace toothbrushes regularly.
  • Visit your dentist regularly for check-ups.
  • Limit the consumption of foods and drinks which are high in sugar, especially between meals.

Common Dental Diseases

Dental Caries (commonly known as dental decay):

Is initiated in dental plaque, which is a layer of bacteria that occurs naturally on the surface of the teeth. These bacteria break down the sugars in food producing acid, which creates an environment favouring the demineralisation of the teeth. Progressive decay of an affected tooth can result in a cavity which will require dental treatment.

Dental Erosion:

Results from the exposure of teeth to acids from foods such as soft drinks, undiluted fruit juices and vinegar. Although it affects all age groups, children are most at risk as they tend to consume offending drinks and foods more frequently.

Periodontal Disease:

Affects the bone and fi bres that surrounds teeth. Gingivitis (infl ammation of the gums) is the fi rst stage of periodontal disease. If persistent, the teeth become loose resulting in loss of function and may eventually fall out.

Diet and Dental Health

Many studies classify sugar amongst the most damaging constituents of our diet to teeth. In short, a diet high in starchy staple foods, fruit and vegetables and low in free sugars and fat is advised for oral/dental and general health¹.

The consequences of developing dentalrelated diseases can include pain, discomfort and tooth loss. If such poor dental health persists or progresses, limited food intake and a decreased variety of foods in the diet may occur.

This could, therefore, result in the insuffi cient intake of certain nutrients which could further compromise overall health and wellbeing.

  • ¹Moynihan PJ. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2005: 83: 694-699.

The Role of Dairy

Present in dairy foods, components such as calcium, phosphate and protein, can benefi t our teeth e.g. help prevent demineralisation of teeth¹. Numerous studies have highlighted a relationship between dairy foods and dental health¹ ². Furthermore, hard cheese is known to protect teeth against caries. This positive effect is thought to be due to a number of factors such as the nutrient content of cheese and its stimulatory effect on saliva fl ow².

Additionally, although milk contains sugar, this is in the form of a natural sugar known as lactose. Lactose is kinder to teeth than other common sugars¹.

Remember, dairy products can not only be incorporated into meals, but milk and cheese should also be encouraged as tooth-friendly snacks.

For further information on dental health, visit the Dental Health Foundation’s website: www.dentalhealth.ie.

  • ¹ Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 10th edition [Garrow JS, James WPT & Ralph A, editors] Churchill Livingstone. 2004.
  • ² Moynihan P. British Nutrition Foundation Nutrition Bulletin 2000; 25: 281-286.

Did you know?

Hard cheese has been shown to stimulate saliva production, which can contribute to the health of our teeth. Saliva helps to remove food that may be lodged in the teeth and carries components such as calcium, phosphate and fl uoride assisting tooth mineralisation. (Manual of Dietetic Practice, 4th edition. Blackwell Publishing, London. 2007).

NutriMyth of the month

Myth:

All fl avoured dairy products are bad for teeth.

Truth:

A review assessing the association of milk and fl avoured milk products with dental caries concluded that such an effect is likely to be low in most individuals. The nutrient value of fl avoured milk products should be recognised. (Levine RS. Br Dent J. 2001; 191: 20).

 

If you have any suggestions or ideas, we would be delighted to hear from you via email at feelinggood@ndc.ie or write to us at The National Dairy Council, 28 Westland Square, Dublin 2.


Don't miss our next edition on ‘Osteoporosis ’ - available online from Monday 19th October 2009