Got a Sweet Tooth?

Dental cavities develop when oral bacteria break down sugar and processed starches in foods to produce acid which dissolves tooth structure. Frequent exposure to highly processed foods containing added sugars increases risk of cavities. The good news is cavities are preventable. 
A healthy diet including minimally-processed whole foods and traditional eating behaviors serve as the foundation for cavity prevention because they limit your teeth’s exposure to sugar. Whole foods provide nutrients to build healthy teeth in addition to a healthy body. Traditional eating behaviors include structured meals and two to three structured snacks daily. The World Health Organization and United States Dietary Guidelines recommend that we consume less than 10% of our total calorie intake from added sugars (i.e., 50 g  sugar/2000 Kcal) to reduce risk of cavities, obesity, and other diseases.

Prevent cavities with brushing and regular preventative care:

• Brush teeth twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste.
• Help your child brush their teeth until they are able to write in cursive.    
• A pea-size amount of toothpaste is recommended for children over two years of age.      
• No more than a grain of rice of fluoride toothpaste for children under 2.
• There are many phone apps to help remember to brush teeth.
• See your dentist regularly for preventive care.

Dietary tips to protect your family’s teeth from added sugar:

•    Limit intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, 100% fruit juices, and sweet treats. Check the nutrition label for ‘added sugars.’
•    Consume all foods and beverages at 3 meals and 2-3 snacks per day. Eating at regular times limits sugar exposures and encourages a healthy appetite at meals.
•    Consume fluoridated tap water or other sugar-free beverages between meals and snacks. Fluoride helps protect teeth from cavities.
•    Avoid rewarding behaviors or bribing children with preferred foods. Such rewards encourage unhealthy relationships with food.
•    Select a balanced diet according to ChooseMyPlate® recommendations.

Receive dental care in the student clinics at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, and your treatment could be half the cost–or 100% covered if you have UI’s Delta Dental II plan.
Many put off finding a dentist or going back to their dentists for follow-up care until they have a problem. 
For some people, the cost alone of dental treatment has prevented them from following through on dental care. The University of Iowa College of Dentistry offers reduced fees in its student clinics and is conveniently located on the health sciences campus in Iowa City. It is one of just a few dental schools in the country to have all dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association.

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2020 liveWELL newsletter.