Care of your teeth: good diet = healthy teeth
We all need strong, healthy teeth to chew their food, speak and have a good-looking, healthy smile. What’s more, a good diet is essential for general growth and development and to give you the energy needed to live life to the full. Almost all foods, including milk or vegetables, have some type of sugar, which can contribute to tooth decay. To help control the amount of sugar you or your child consumes, always read food labels and choose foods and beverages that are low in added sugars. Also, select beverages, such as water, that hydrates and contributes to good nutrition. Limit the amount and frequency of caffeinated drinks tea / coffee / and some of the herbal teas, and sports drinks – these will give you an energy boost initially only to leave you feeling low on energy an hour or so later… thus risking reaching for the sugar containing energy drinks or juices for your next energy boost.
Healthy eating habits lead to healthy teeth. Like the rest of the body, the teeth, bones and the soft tissues of the mouth need a well-balanced diet.
What's wrong with sugary snacks?
Sugary snacks taste so good — but they aren't so good for your teeth or your body. The candies, cakes, cookies and other sugary foods that kids love to eat between meals can cause tooth decay. Some sugary foods have a lot of fat in them to.
How do sugars attack your teeth?
Invisible germs, called bacteria live in your mouth all the time. Some of these bacteria form a sticky material called “dental plaque” on the surface of the teeth. When you put sugar in your mouth, the bacteria in the plaque digest the sweet foods and turn it into acids. These acids are powerful enough to dissolve the hard protective enamel that covers your teeth. That's how cavities get started. If you don't eat much sugar, the bacteria can't produce as much of the acid that destroys the enamel.