Proper nutrition, in terms of caries protection, essentially focuses on reducing the intake of sugary foods and especially on reducing the consumption frequency of sugary foods.
Plaque bacteria take up sugars from the food for their metabolism resulting in the production of acids which are responsible for the destruction of the tooth structure by removing calcium and phosphorus from the dental surface.
The presence of saliva restores acidity (decreases pH) in the oral cavity after food intake. With the restoration of acidity, calcium and phosphorus are again deposited on dental surfaces. This function, however, takes from 20 minutes to two hours.
If these changes in the acidity of the oral environment are frequent (frequent intake of food and especially sugary foods in the intervals between meals) then there is not enough time to restore the loss of minerals from the dental surfaces. It is important to understand that the risk of caries is much greater when we frequently eat small amounts of sugary foods (eg a candy an hour after eating and later a coffee with 2 teaspoons of sugar, etc.) than when we eat a large amount immediately after eating (eg a large dessert immediately after eating). Every time we get sugar there is a small attack on the teeth. Therefore our aim should be to reduce the number of these attacks.
Also, as part of a proper diet, it is recommended to replace sweets and soft drinks with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Foods such as vegetables and fruits, whole grain bread, low-fat yogurt, low-fat cheese, and milk are some options for snacks.
The diet of small children needs special attention. Adding sugar to milk or cream or smearing milk bottles with honey to make it easier for the little ones to eat or smearing the pacifier with honey to stop them from crying are actions that are destructive to the health of the teeth.
