The 10 Most Cariogenic Foods (No. 4 is Very Common)

The Cariogenic foods Are those products that when ingested facilitate the production of dental caries assuming a risk to our dental health. In this article I will show you a list of the 10 most common.

When it comes to preventing caries, it is important to know which foods are the most threatening to our dental health.

Cariogenic foods

In addition to maintaining proper oral hygiene, removing plaque with effective and frequent cleaning, dentifrices and fluoride rinses and visiting the dentist regularly, attention should be paid to the food we eat during our meals, as these are a key factor At the time of preventing the formation of cavities.

Among the various factors that predispose each person to acquire this widespread dental disease, the quality of the diet is one of the fundamental factors.

In this regard it is recommended to take a balanced diet by choosing natural foods that facilitate natural cleaning through our own salivation, and above all avoid cariogenic foods.

When assessing the extent to which a food is cariogenic, we must take into account several factors. Among them it is convenient to analyze the characteristics of the food, among which we find its level of:

  • Adhesiveness : The more sticky the food the more time it will spend in contact with our teeth and the easier it will be for them to act negatively on them.
  • Consistency : Hard, fibrous foods like apples or carrots help with natural cleansing by creating saliva, while soft foods such as cookies or chocolate have a tendency to make the mouth dirtier.
  • Size of the particles forming them : The compounds by small particles have a greater possibility of remaining between cavities after cleaning.
  • Moment in which we eat the food : The cariogenicity of a food is greater if eaten by snacking between meals, instead of being part of breakfast, lunch or dinner. This is due to the fact that during meals. More salivation occurs and we usually stay longer chewing the different foods that make up the dish, which also produces a greater movement that accelerates the elimination of waste.
  • Frequency of eating potentially harmful foods : As it is logical, the more frequently we take cariogenic foods, the more possibilities there will be for the formation of caries.

What foods should we avoid then? Broadly speaking, parsley cariogenic food is sugar, especially at a high index relative to other components of the product and in combination with carbohydrates. With this in mind, if we want to reduce the risk of tooth decay through a change in Our eating habits , Special attention should be given to the following foods.

  1. Candies and candies : They are the food with greater percentage of sugar and therefore, the most dangerous for our teeth. If you do not want to completely eliminate your intake, it is recommended to choose those that disappear quickly from the mouth, avoid chewing at all costs and not consume those that stick easily on the teeth, such as candy or condiments.
  1. Carbonated soft drinks : Drinks like cola, orange juice or similar (any sweet soda with bubbles) contain a high amount of sugar and being liquids, they get into the interdental cavities. Also diet or light refreshments and those without bubbles can increase the risk of cavities, as their consumption reduces tooth enamel and does not provide any of the beneficial qualities for our teeth that water has when we drink.
  1. French fries, bread and crackers : Carbohydrates refined with starch have the capacity to transform into sugars; Therefore, they are considered cariogenic foods, especially if dental flushing is not performed after ingestion between meals.
  1. Fruit juices concentrated or with added sugars : Despite the many benefits of natural fruit juices, it is increasingly common to find juices based on concentrates or added sugars in the home. In many cases, these bottled juices provide ingredients that sweeten their flavor to make them more attractive, but many of the original properties of the fruit (such as fiber or high vitamin value) are eliminated. Therefore, it is advisable to opt for natural juices and drink them in moderation, or at least, to check the ingredients of the bottled juices to choose the ones with the lowest percentage of sugar.
  1. Chocolates and chocolates : Despite its exquisite taste, chocolates and chocolates are highly cariogenic foods due to its high sugar level and above all, the soft and sticky texture, easily adhered to the teeth, which present in most cases. The best option to avoid cavities is to choose chocolates with the least possible sugar.
  1. Ice creams, smoothies and granitas : As with soft drinks and concentrated juices, ice creams easily melt in the mouth, becoming liquid, which facilitates the entry of sugary waste between teeth as well as shakes. Among its varieties, the most cariogenic flavors are those with a higher concentration of sugar such as chocolate or dulce de leche, and those that use sweetened cream bases or flavored hail water. Choose those that have an index lower in sugar and your teeth will thank you.
  1. Breakfast cereals or energy bars : In most cereals for breakfast or cereal bars we will find honey or sugar as part of its ingredients. Its texture makes it easier for the remains to stick to the teeth, so after consuming them, it is advised to brush thoroughly the teeth, with special attention to the molars.
  2. Bakery : Croissants, donuts, cakes, pies and cakes are also one of the foods with a higher sugar and carbohydrate content, and in many cases, especially if they are of industrial manufacture, do not contain a healthy nutritional value. They are of course included in the list of cariogenic foods and we must moderate their intake.
  3. Excess sugar or honey in coffee or infusions : Neither infusions nor coffee carry the increased risk of tooth decay per se, but we almost never drink these drinks alone. We always add sugar or honey to sweeten its flavor, so we must be careful with the quantities. Being liquids, they will penetrate more easily between the teeth, and being taken with an excess between meals could pose a threat to our dental health.
  4. Dry fruits : Dried plums, figs, or raisins can also become a danger to our teeth due to its sticky texture, high sugar level and because it is common to eat them as snack between meals. When eating them it is advisable to brush your teeth then .

In addition to these tips, keep in mind that there are also foods that have an inhibitory effect on cariogenic processes. Unlike those mentioned in this list, they create a positive effect by avoiding the accumulation of plaque and debris, and benefit from the protection against caries due to its properties.

The main components that increase the natural protection of our body against caries are: fluoride (either in food or administered topically in a rinse or denitrific), foods with calcium and phosphorus (avoid demineralization of the tooth), And foods that provide good levels of iron and protein.

And you have problems with some of these foods?

References

  1. Caries Protective Foods: A Futurist Perspective. KS Sandhu, N Gupta, P Gupta, V Arora, N Mehta - International Journal, 2014 - ijahs.net
  2. Food Composition and Food Cariogenicity Factors Affecting the Cariogenic Potential of Foods. Edmondson E.M.S. Caries Research Vol. 24, No. Suppl. 1, Year 1990 (Cover Date: 1990)
  3. Food, dietary habits and dental health. European Food Information Council. EUFIC REVIEW 11/2003
  4. Image source .

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