Healthy Teeth

Good teeth mean different things to different people. You might want bright white, ramrod-straight gnashers - or you might not care too much as long as they do their job and don't give you any trouble. Either way, keeping your teeth healthy for as long as possible doesn't just mean you'll have a great smile - it will also benefit your overall health.

Sweet tooth

Bacteria in your mouth form a sticky film on your teeth, called plaque, and when these bacteria come into contact with sugar and starch (which breaks down into sugars) they produce an acidic substance. This acid then attacks the enamel on your teeth. When this happens often, or if the teeth aren't cleaned regularly to remove the plaque, the enamel becomes so weak that it breaks down, forming a cavity.
Interestingly, although sugar plays an important role in creating dental cavities, it's not necessarily the amount of sugar you consume that causes the problems. The worst damage is done when the sugar is in your mouth for a long time, for example, sucking on hard sweets, chewing sweets that stick to your teeth or making sugary drinks last a few hours.
A good way to limit the harm caused by sugar is by avoiding sugary snacks. Try less sugary foods to snack on instead, like cheese, raw vegetables, nuts and breadsticks.
You don't have to give up sugary treats altogether but it's better to eat sugary foods with meals, when the saliva helps neutralise the acid produced by bacteria.

Acid attack

Another threat to teeth comes, not from sugar, but from acid. Found in acidic foods and drinks, like fizzy drinks, fruits, fruit juices and wine, these acids can soften the enamel on teeth, making them prone to damage from toothpaste and tooth brushing.

But eating fruit and brushing your teeth are important elements of living healthily! So what can you do?

Well, just like sugar, you should take care not to have these foods and drinks in your mouth for too long, or without other foods. Remember, the acid weakens the enamel so if you do eat or drink these products, dental health professionals advise you should wait around an hour before brushing your teeth. While you're waiting, you could drink a small glass of milk, or nibble on a small piece of cheese - dairy products can be very beneficial because they contain minerals like calcium, which have a protective effect.
Chewing sugar free gum has also been shown to help because you produce more saliva, which protects the teeth from damage.
Poor oral health can also have an impact on the rest of the body. In particular, gum disease has been linked with an increased risk of developing heart disease. It is thought that bacteria from infected gums enter the bloodstream, creating inflammation, which in turn narrows arteries. While the links are still not clear and research into this is ongoing, it's another good reason to take care of your teeth and gums.

Dental dilemma

False teeth may be better than ever before but for many - particularly elderly people - ill-fitting or badly maintained dentures can lead to severe problems, even malnutrition.
Care homes and nursing homes don't always make sure that residents receive proper dental care, and this often means that vulnerable people are suffering in silence.
It might not be the first thing you think of, but when an elderly person who wears dentures loses weight, those dentures might not fit properly anymore - making it difficult to eat. This means that they don't get enough energy or nutrients, making them more likely to become ill. This vicious cycle can contribute to malnutrition - a very real problem among elderly people in the UK.
So, if you have an elderly relative or friend who wears dentures - just check that they can eat properly and aren't suffering discomfort from dentures or poor dental health.
And remember that looking after your teeth today will stand you in good stead for your later years.

The baddies

As well as taking care when you're eating or drinking sugary or acidic foods or drinks, there are a few other things worth mentioning.

Smoking

Smoking should be avoided for so many reasons. It's one of the main causes of bad breath and can cause tooth staining, gum disease and tooth loss. Smokers are at greater risk of oral cancer - over 90% of patients with oral cancer use tobacco.

Coffee

It seems like coffee is a hero one minute and a villain the next. Generally speaking, drinking one or two cups of coffee a day won't do you any harm and may even be beneficial. For your teeth, you might want to think about the staining effects - make sure you brush your teeth after your morning coffee. A milky coffee might even help your teeth because of the calcium in it - but don't forget that there can be a lot of calories (and sugar) in fancy coffees!

For more information visit the British Dental Health Foundation.

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Written by Muhammad Shakeel

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