# Monday, March 01, 2004

What causes cavities?

Lately it has come to my attention that many people think that sweets and candies are what causes tooth decay, and that they should be avoided and replaced with “more healthy“ items. This didn't dove-tail with my understanding so I, naturally, did a bit of research:

Sweets like cake and candy are not much worse for your teeth than bread, biscuits, potato chips, fruit salad, and a glass of milk.

[ Diet and Dental Health ]

Sweet treats such as cakes, cookies and candies etc, are not measurably worse for your teeth than a hearty meal of rice, dal, chapatti, bhaji, fruit and a glass of lassi!

[ Pediatric Oncall ]

According to Environmental Nutrition, crackers and dried fruit are prime culprits, as they "stick to teeth tenaciously." Chocolate has an anti-decay substance that may or may not make up for its high sugar content, but it should be no worse for your teeth than any other carbohydrate.

[ Men's Fitness ]

life
#    Comments [3] |
Monday, March 01, 2004 12:20:02 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Yeah. From what I know it's Carbohydrates that are the problem. Sugar is just a notorious source of carbs.
Doug Moore
Monday, March 01, 2004 12:21:58 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Sugar = good...that's all. And if you don't go to the dentist you don't have to find that you have a cavity.
Henri
Monday, March 01, 2004 10:48:10 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Keep in mind one point, it isn't so much the food that is the true culprit of cavities. Sure, food is what *causes* the tooth decay, but it is much more your personal predisposition to cavities that is the true cause of what will give you tooth decay. Take for example my teeth, I have a genetic predisposition for more cavaties than the next schmo simply due to the maternal genetic structure that determined that I would have deep grooves in my back molars and surrounding teeth. This then traps food (namely items such as breads and other sticky food) for longer periods of time. Couple that with a weak enamel covering that begings to go away in my family on my mother's side at roughly 30 years old, means that I will need to either brush more frequently, go to the dentist more often for thorough cleanings, or get a protective covering added to my teeth, or risk multiple deep cavities by the time I am 35. Now chew on that data.
Alex Santantonio
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