Cereal is one of the most favorite foods among both kids and adults as they are not only ‘ready to eat’ but also very tasty. But the flip side of the cereals lies in its sugar and starch content. Also, when these cereals are eaten dry, they pave way for tooth decay and cavities. So is there any remedy for this? The leading oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Pune explains the damages these sugar hidden cereals can cause to teeth and a remedy to curb the decay.
When sugar and carbohydrates that are present in cereals break down into simple sugars, they react with bacteria that are present in the dental plaque and produce acid. This acid is the root cause of tooth decay as the minerals inside the enamel gets dissolved and leads to demineralization. Moreover cereals can stay longer in the teeth and this worsens the problem. The more the food stays in the teeth, more acids are produced that leads to further decay. The trick is to remove the food from the teeth quickly so as to retard the chances of tooth decay.
A great way to avoid tooth decay after eating cereals is Milk. A study conducted by University of Illinois at Chicago College of dentistry found that drinking milk after eating the dry cereals lowers the acid levels and may prevent cavities. When tooth decay is prevented, automatically the occurrence of damage to tooth enamel and cavities is avoided. This result was published after rigorous trials and tests with water, apple juice and milk. Milk raises the plaque pH from 5.7 to 6.5 in 30 minutes and was able to reduce the level of acidity compared to water and juice and acts as neutralizer in preventing cavities. So milk is naturally a healthy drink and it does more good to teeth by stopping growth of plaque and also fights with cavities and aids in remineralization. So worried about taking sugar loaded cereals? Not anymore. Have your bowl of cereal and drink a glass of milk to prevent cavities and tooth decay. But it is better to avoid fruit juices after cereal, as the added sugar in the juice may do more harm than good.
It has to be noted that selecting a right kind of sequence of what we eat may help in reducing cavities. For instance, eating cheese or drinking milk after sugar loaded food goes a long way in avoiding tooth decay. To keep bones and teeth healthy it is important to introduce healthy eating habits among children. Nutrient rich food like milk, greens, vegetables and fruits should be encouraged instead of sugary food that has no nutrient value. Also it is highly recommended to avoid food that stays longer in the teeth like popcorn, caramel, and lollipop. Instead fiber rich food should be consumed to stimulate saliva that acts as a defense system to fight tooth decay and cavities. Sugarless chewing gum also aids in saliva production, reduces acid production and prevents from cavities. In short, abstain from frequent snacking to avoid acid attack and use fluoridated toothpaste to protect your teeth from cavities.
Never and ever forget that prevention is better than curing. So, enjoy your cereals but also follow it up with a glass of milk.
Dr. Nitin Oswal
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