Whose Oral Health is Affected by Poor Nutritional Habits?

Whose Oral Health is Affected by Poor Nutritional Habits?

Minerals and Nutrients Necessary for Oral Health

The number of people consuming sugar-filled sodas, sweetened fruit drinks and snacks that contain little, if any, nutritional value is skyrocketing among the general population.

Eating patterns and food choices, particularly among children and teens, are important factors that affect how quickly tooth decay develops. Dentists believe that children who consume too much soda are more prone to tooth decay and serious ailments, such as diabetes and osteoporosis, later in life. However, foods high in carbohydrates, as well as some fruits, juices and sodas, peanut butter, crackers and potato chips, also contribute to cavities in children.

The elderly, individuals on restrictive diets and those undergoing medical treatment may be too isolated, weak or lack the appetite, time, resources or money to eat nutritionally balanced meals at a time when it is especially vital. As a result, these individuals may be afflicted by tooth loss, pain or a joint dysfunction such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, all of which can impair an individual's ability to taste, bite, chew and swallow foods.

People who are severely underweight or overweight (struggling with obesity), who have recently lost weight and/or are malnourished or take medications (steroids, immunosuppressants, chemotherapeutic agents, etc.), may have a poor nutritional state that could negatively impact their dental caries rate, also.

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these circumstances, talk to your dentist about solutions and remedies to the situation. It is important to keep all members of your healthcare team informed and up-to-date about your medical history, lifestyle and eating habits so they can work together to identify, prevent and/or control oral and medical health risks.

***********************
***********************

Nutrition affects teeth during development. Poor nutrition may exacerbate periodontal disease, a leading cause of tooth loss in adults, as well as other oral infectious diseases. Although poor nutrition does not cause gum disease directly, many researchers think the disease progresses faster and more severely in people with poor nutritional habits.

Therefore, getting the proper amount of vitamins, minerals, fats and protein is essential for the growth and regeneration of normal tissues, as well as your body's ability to fight infections. Carbohydrates, fat and protein supply the energy your body needs for tissue maintenance and repair. Along with vitamin C, vitamins A, E, B, K and D are essential for healing and a quicker recovery time. For example, vitamin A significantly contributes to healing by reducing the inflammatory period of tissue repair.

Important minerals and nutrients your body needs to stay healthy include the following:

Calcium:
Your teeth and jaws are made mostly of calcium. Without enough calcium in your diet, you may develop gum disease and tooth decay. Calcium is found in many foods and liquids, such as milk and dairy products, beans, broccoli, nuts and oysters.

Iron:
Iron deficiency can cause tongue inflammation and mouth sores. Iron is found in foods such as red meat, bran cereals and some nuts and spices.

Vitamin B3 (niacin):
A lack of vitamin B3 can cause bad breath and canker sores. To boost your B3 levels, eat chicken and fish.

Vitamins B12 and B2 (riboflavin):
Mouth sores can develop when you do not get enough Vitamins B12 and B2. Red meat, chicken, liver, pork and fish, as well as dairy products like milk, yogurt and cheese, are good sources of vitamin B12. Vitamin B2 is found in foods like pasta, bagels, spinach and almonds.

Vitamin C:
Vitamin C deficiency may lead to bleeding gums and loose teeth. Sweet potatoes, raw red peppers and oranges are great sources of vitamin C.

Vitamin D:
Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, which helps build strong bones and teeth. A diet lacking or low in vitamin D can lead to burning mouth syndrome. Symptoms of this condition include a burning mouth sensation, a metallic or bitter taste in your mouth and mouth dryness. To increase your vitamin D intake, drink milk, and eat egg yolks and fish. Limited amounts of sunshine help the body to produce Vitamin D.

Dental plaque identification

Dental Plaque Identification at Home

The home dental plaque identification test identifies plaque, a sticky substance that collects around and between teeth. The test helps show how well you are brushing and flossing your teeth.

Plaque is the major cause of tooth decay and gum disease (gingivitis). It is hard to see with the naked eye because it is whitish colored, like teeth.

How the Test is Performed

There are two ways to perform this test. One method uses special tablets that contain a red dye that stains the plaque. One tablet is chewed thoroughly, moving the mixture of saliva and dye over the teeth and gums for about 30 seconds. The mouth is then rinsed with water and the teeth are examined to identify pink-stained areas (unremoved plaque). A small dental mirror may help to check all areas.

The second method uses a plaque light. A special fluorescent solution is swirled around the mouth. The mouth is rinsed gently with water, and the teeth and gums are examined while shining an ultraviolet plaque light into the mouth. The advantage of this method is that it leaves no pink stains in the mouth.

In the office, dentists are often able to detect plaque through a thorough examination with dental instruments.

Normal Results

No plaque or food debris will be seen on the teeth.


What Abnormal Results Mean

The tablets will stain areas of plaque dark-red.

The plaque light solution will color the plaque a brilliant orange-yellow.

The colored areas show where the brushing and flossing have missed. These areas need to be brushed again to get rid of the stained plaque.

Considerations

The tablets may cause a temporary pink coloring of the lips and cheeks. They may color the mouth and tongue red. Dentists suggest using them at night so that the color will be gone by morning.

Teeth cleaning

Brushing, scrubbing and flossing

Careful and frequent brushing with a toothbrush helps to prevent build-up of plaque bacteria on the teeth.[1] These bacteria metabolize carbohydrates in our meals or snacks and excrete acid which demineralizes tooth enamel, eventually leading to tooth decay and toothache if acid episodes are frequent or are not prevented. Calculus (dental) or tartar buildup on teeth usually opposite salivary ducts is because of calcium deposits in resident plaque. Frequent brushing and swishing saliva around helps prevent these deposits. Cavities can be costly, in terms of the monetary cost to drill out the cavities and insert dental fillings, and in terms of the tissue already damaged. Fluoride- containing, or anti-plaque (tartar control) toothpastes may be recommended by the dentist.

Early toothbrushing utilized powdered pumice stone as a polishing agent. Later, flavored powders were mixed with the powered pumice to develop a more tasty toothpowder. In the late 1920's, powdered pumice was mixed with a flavored paste to make toothpaste, with no added treatment agents as found in toothpastes today.

Flossing

In addition to brushing, the use of dental floss too may help to prevent build-up of plaque bacteria on the teeth.

Almost all cavities occur where food is trapped between teeth and inside deep pits and fissures in grooves on chewing surfaces, where the brush, toothpaste, mouthwash, saliva, and chewing gum cannot reach.

Special appliances or tools may be recommended to supplement (but not to replace) toothbrushing and flossing. These include special toothpicks, oral irrigators, or other devices. Initially electric toothbrushes were only recommended for persons who have problems with strength or dexterity of their hands, but many dentists are now recommending them to many other patients to improve their home dental care.

Scrubbing

Unlike tooth brushing, scrubbing can also be done using a twig. With this approach, no brush is used but the twig itself is used to clean the teeth. Plant sap present within the twig make the use of additional tooth paste unneeded. In many parts of the world Teeth cleaning twigs are used. In the Muslim world the miswak or siwak is made from twigs or roots that are alleged to have an antiseptic effect when applied as a toothbrush.

Professional teeth cleaning

Regular teeth cleaning (Prophylaxis) by a dental hygienist is recommended to remove tartar (mineralized plaque) that may develop even with careful brushing and flossing, especially in areas that are difficult for a patient to reach on his own at home. Professional cleaning includes tooth scaling and tooth polishing and debridement if too much tartar has accumulated. This involves the use of various instruments or devices to loosen and remove deposits from the teeth.

Most dental hygienists recommend having the teeth professionally cleaned at least once every 12 to 24 months. More frequent cleaning and examination may be necessary during the treatment of many of the dental/oral disorders. Routine examination of the teeth is recommended at least every year. This may include yearly, select dental X-rays. See also dental plaque identification procedure and removal.

However, in between cleanings by a dental hygienist, good oral hygiene is essential for preventing cavities, tartar build-up, and gum disease.

Complications

Overly vigorous or incorrectly performed brushing or flossing may result in injury to the gingiva (gums). Some results of improper or over vigorous brushing may include: worn-out bristles, unusually sore gums, damage to enamel of teeth, gingivitis and bleeding gums.

One should always call the dentist or dental hygienist if instructions or demonstration of proper brushing or flossing techniques is needed, or to schedule routine dental cleaning and examination.

children problem

The question may be funny enough but not that funny to avoid answering it. As far as our visibility goes, our mouth may contain the teeth and the tongue but there is also the presence of many other things not visible to the naked eye. Diseases affecting the mouth and the throat are very common and it is mainly cavities and cancer that rule the chart. Children between the ages of 12-15 are the main sufferers of cavity. Cavity could cause severe pain, dysfunction, underweight and a very poor look on the face. Due to some of these diseases, some of the children may also tend to absent from school.

Cavity is not a disease that cannot be treated but the children coming from poor families face a tough time. Not just the children but also even the aged face this problem. People over the age of 60 tend to loose almost all their teeth. It not only spoils their look but also limits their intake of some nutritious food. This in turn affects their health.

Mouth and throat cancers is yet another problem. The main cause of this is too much of smoking and alcoholism. People who smoke a lot are prone to deadly diseases like periodontitis. Moreover, due to excessive smoking, medicines fail to show their reaction.

AIDS is a well heard of disease and is also a deadly one. Research says that this disease causes a serious damage to the mouth and the surrounding areas. The lips, tongue, cheeks and the gums are the worst affected by AIDS.

Many of the diseases of the mouth are also caused due to gallstones in the gallbladder and the liver. These stones cause a hindrance to the digestion of the food and the waste materials that are supposed to be eliminated from the body, remains back in the intestinal tract. Gallstones also slow down the secretion of bile, which in turn reduces appetite, and the secretion of saliva from the glands. If there is less saliva in the mouth, it causes a lot of problems. In extreme cases the tooth gets decayed and several other tooth problem also arises. Our mouth is very prone to bacterial and viral diseases and this is caused due to the waste in the mouth that decomposes leading to toxins in the body. The bacteria of the mouth are called the Thrush and the virus is called the Herpes. The weak and unhealthy cells of the body are the main targets of these bacterial and viral diseases.

Sometimes our mouth undergoes a bitter taste. This is caused due to the bile in the mouth, which drastically brings about a change in the pH- value of the saliva, which slows down, in fact destroys its cleansing abilities and leaves the mouth, to be affected by infection

The diseases that affect the mouth may sound deadly but it takes very little to enjoy a refreshing breath and have a broad smile on your face. It's never too late to take care of your mouth.