Snacking Could Prove Harmful To Your Teeth

Constant consumption of snacks can lead to a number of oral health issues

In the past, when food, and especially the variety of food available, was in shorter supply than it is today, most people would usually eat three meals a day. These days, most of us have easy access to a continual supply of food as well as a variety to suit our own palates. Although we may think that we do still eat three meals a day, the fact is that many of us don’t, and instead, continually snack, or ‘graze’ throughout the day instead.

It might seem that this isn’t really a problem as long as we aren’t just consuming unhealthy snacks, but even eating healthy snacks can have an impact on our teeth and gums. In today’s blog, the team at SG Dental and Implant Centre discuss how this could negatively affect the oral health of our Burton patients.

What snacks are you eating?

The most obvious issue is what type of snacks you are eating. Although some people will be conscious about what they eat, avoiding the worst available products, many of us eat this way largely for convenience and probably pay less attention than we should to the quality of food we are eating. This means that there is a good chance that we are consuming a lot more sugar than we would with the traditional ‘three meals a day’. Most convenience foods will often contain high levels of sugar, and even healthy snacks, such as fruit, also contain sugars and acids that can cause premature enamel wear, leading to sensitive teeth and other issues.

The role of saliva

When we eat, the first part of digesting our food starts in our mouth; not only through the breaking down of food by chewing, but also the role that enzymes in our saliva play in making the food easier for us to digest. This isn’t the only role that saliva plays though. It also flushes away some of the remaining food particles that remain in our mouths afterwards. If we eat a meal and then don’t eat for a few hours, most of the remaining food particles will be broken down and swallowed. However, if we eat every hour or more frequently, our saliva won’t have time to complete the process before the next lot of food is consumed. This means that our mouths are likely to accumulate more food particles which will break down, allowing more sugars to come into contact with our teeth and gums.

Remineralisation

Similarly, after we have eaten, the enamel on our teeth softens slightly and then gradually remineralises. It is important that it is allowed time to do this as strong and healthy enamel protects the teeth from tooth decay and other problems. If we snack constantly throughout the day, there is every chance that our teeth won’t have time to remineralise and the risk of problems like tooth decay and overly sensitive teeth can increase. There is also the risk that if we snack late at night, we might brush our teeth while the enamel is still soft. This can also cause premature wearing and you should wait until half an hour after eating before you brush your teeth.

Increased risk of fractures

The more we use our teeth to chew and grind our food, the more chances there are of fractures. The risk will be heightened if we eat harder foods too of course, and one popular choice of snack is nuts. These are one of the most common food products that can lead to chipped or broken teeth, especially if a rogue piece of shell makes its way into the packet. Minor damage to the teeth, such as a small crack, may go unnoticed for a while but may expose the dentin part of the tooth, allowing bacteria to enter which is likely to result in tooth decay, or even lead to root canal infections.

As far as possible, we recommend that our Burton patients try to eat at regular intervals rather than “grazing” in order to allow their teeth to recover before they eat again. As mentioned earlier, remember also to leave half an hour from finishing eating to brushing your teeth. However you eat though, we are here to help you have your teeth checked and monitored on a regular basis as well as providing treatment options for any damage that might occur.

If you would like any more information on any of the topics we cover in our blogs, or would like to book an appointment to see the dentist or hygienist, please call SG Dental and Implant Centre today on 01283 845345.