Should You Be Offended If Your Dentist Offers You Diet Advice?

Since the exposure to fluoride, negative dental health has weakened, however, it has not diminished.  It is still necessary for dental professionals to educate their dental patients on improving their eating habits.

Sources of sugar has changed

Research has unequivocally shown sugars to be the main aetiological factor for dental caries.  According to the School of Dental Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, repeat dietary surveys of English children over three decades indicate that levels of sugars intake have remained stable, while sources of sugars have changed considerably, with the contribution from soft drinks more than doubling since 1980.

Dental Health significantly affects overall health

 

 There are some areas of concentration that have singled out by numerous studies.  These bullet points are given to make you aware of the information.  It is up to each of individually to maintain our health as needed, as well, as educate others.

• Frequent consumption of simple carbohydrates, primarily in the form of dietary sugars, is significantly associated with increased dental caries risk

• Malnutrition (undernutrition or overnutrition) in children is often a consequence of inappropriate infant and childhood feeding practices and dietary behaviors associated with limited access to fresh, nutrient dense foods, substituting instead high-energy, low-cost, nutrient-poor sugary and fatty foods

• Nutrition affects the teeth during development and malnutrition may exacerbate periodontal and oral infectious diseases, since nutrition influences craniofacial development, oral cancer and oral infectious diseases

• Dental diseases impact considerably on self-esteem and quality of life and are expensive to treat

• Lack of availability of quality food stores in rural and poor neighborhoods, food insecurity, and changing dietary beliefs resulting from acculturation, including changes in traditional ethnic eating behaviors, can further deter healthful eating and increase risk for early childhood caries and obesity

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