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April 15, 2004
Prairie Fare: Foods to Keep You Smiling
Lately we’ve been thinking about teeth a lot in my family. My baby is cutting four teeth simultaneously and not particularly enjoying the experience. My elementary-age son and daughter have jack-o-lantern smiles as they lose their baby teeth and grow new ones. I get daily reports on “wiggly” teeth. To top off all these teething experiences, I just finished having a root canal. So I have a fake tooth. Needless to say, we’re talking a lot about taking care of our teeth. A toothless grin from a baby is pretty cute. A toothless grin from an adult is a little less desirable. Teeth are more than cosmetic of course. Without teeth, talking and chewing are difficult. It can be more difficult to meet nutrition needs and to efficiently digest food without healthy choppers. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 80 percent of young adults and 95 percent of older adults have had cavities or some other type of dental issue. Factors that play a key role in healthy teeth include genetics, regular dental checkups, good oral hygiene, fluoride in the water supply and eating/drinking habits. Certain diseases can place you at greater risk for dental issues. People with diabetes are more at risk for periodontal disease, which can lead to inflammation and loss of bone and supporting tissue for teeth. Researchers have shown relationships between heart disease, obesity and periodontal disease, too. Nutrition plays a major role in keeping teeth strong and healthy. Low calcium intake, for example, is associated with periodontal disease. That is a good reason to reach for milk, yogurt, cheese and other good calcium sources. Feeding patterns are important for tooth health. “Baby bottle tooth decay” is a major cause of tooth decay. It occurs when infants or toddlers are put to bed with a bottle of formula, milk or juice. This practice bathes their teeth in carbohydrate-rich liquid that feeds bacteria and can destroy tooth enamel even before teeth erupt. To comfort a baby in a crib, providing a bottle of water is recommended. Wiping a baby’s teeth with a wash cloth or piece of gauze is a good first step to oral hygiene, too. Sipping on soda pop all day puts people at risk of cavities because mouth “germs” interact with sweeteners in soda pop to produce an acid, which weakens tooth enamel. Even “diet” soda is acidic enough to weaken tooth enamel over time, especially if it replaces calcium-containing beverages. As we sip and snack, here are some recommendations to help keep teeth healthy:
Here’s a quick and tasty snack that’s good for your teeth, too. For more information about nutrition and health, visit the NDSU Extension Service Web site: www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/food.htm
### Source:
Julie Garden-Robinson, (701) 231-7187, jgardenr@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
Market Advisor: |
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North Dakota State University |
