Does nutrition and eating certain foods really make a difference in oral health?
Yes. Simple sugars, such as sucrose, refined sugars and corn syrup are potentially dangerous because they are a major source of food for bacteria. Sticky foods such as gummy candies or processed fruit snacks are more problematic because they can get stuck in areas where they cannot be easily removed with a toothbrush. Try to have children avoid dried fruits, potato chips, sweetened cereals and crumbly foods that can get stuck in grooves and are more likely to cause cavities. Some good choices for healthy teeth include raw fruits, raw vegetables, and pretzels which are quick clearing foods. Foods that are believed to help inhibit decay through an anti-bacterial effect include milk, cheese and oats.
