Ask a Dentist: Eating crackers puts you at high risk for decay

Many common, everyday foods have tremendous potential to cause tooth decay. The typical diet of people of all ages in the U.S. has become increasingly likely to cause decay since the 1970s. High sugar and high carbohydrate foods have become part of the normal diet.

The easiest and most predictable ways to reduce the chances of dental problems are to brush and floss properly and thoroughly every day, to use a fluoride rinse or brush-on fluoride dispensed by your dentist and to have regular dental check-ups.

Foods with a high potential for causing tooth decay are even worse in infants and children under 6 years old, due to their inability to properly brush their teeth without adult supervision. Also, people with desk jobs and those who are retired are at high risk because they tend to snack on high sugar and high carbohydrate foods and drink high sugar beverages throughout the day.

HIGH POTENTIAL FOODS FOR TOOTH DECAY

» Soft drinks, including non-cola drinks

» Coffee with sugar

» Alcohol

» Hard candy, soft candy, candy bars

» Cake, cookies, pie

» Ice cream

» Crackers

» Carbohydrates (pasta, rice)

» Dried fruits

» Mints

» Gum

MODERATE POTENTIAL FOODS

» Breads

» Diet soft drinks (high acid content)

» Canned fruits

» Fruit Juice (especially if it contains a high percentage of sugar)

LOW POTENTIAL FOODS

» Raw vegetables

» Raw fruits

» Milk

LITTLE OR NO POTENTIAL FOODS

» Meat

» Fish

» Poultry

» Fats and oil

LIMITED ABILITY TO STOP DECAY

» Cheeses

» Xylitol -- found in many sugarless gums and candies

» Nuts

Saliva helps to clean the teeth. Dry mouth is often a result of medications, aging, and radiation therapy. Many over-the-counter and prescription medicines can increase the potential for tooth decay because of their sugar content and the drying effect they have on the mouth.

Most people don't realize bacteria living in the mouth (and feeding on many of the above foods) are a large part of the cause of tooth decay. These bacteria are easily transferred from one person to another, especially from adults to children and between family members.

Dr. Steve Jackson is a dentist in private practice at 7740 Donegan Drive in Manassas. His focus is on sedation, as well as cosmetic and preventive dentistry. For more information, call 703-369-6282 or visit ManassasDentist.com.