Nutrition Bars May Cause Cavities
Sticky Consistency of Nutrition Bars Harms Teeth
By Ashley Neglia
We're all busy, and most of us try to maintain some semblance of a healthy diet while we're on the go. One of the handiest ways to keep your diet in check is to grab a nutrition or energy bar. Whether you're looking to up your vitamin and mineral intake, get some protein or simply satiate hunger, these bars are often one of the quickest, simplest ways to do so. However, with ease comes some disadvantages.
While they may be good for your body as a whole, nutrition and energy bars can wreak havoc on the teeth. The sticky consistency of many of these bars makes it difficult for the mouth to wash away particles that can adhere to the teeth. Leftover food bits that remain in the mouth become fodder for bacteria, which begin to produce the acid that leads to tooth decay within 15 to 20 minutes after food fragments are present, says Dr. Richard H. Price, spokesman for the American Dental Association.
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Worst Things for Your Teeth
White Wine
Thanks to a recent New York University (NYU) study, you can add this pale wine to your list of drinks that can stain your teeth. "The acids in wine create rough spots and grooves that enable chemicals in other beverages that cause staining, such as coffee and tea, to penetrate deeper into the tooth," says Dr. Mark Wolff, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Cariology and Comprehensive Care at NYU College of Dentistry, who oversaw the study, in an NYU press release. Red wine is still the worst wine stainer, the study's findings confirm. One last tip from Dr. Wolff: "The best way to prevent staining caused by wine, as well as other beverages, is to use a toothpaste containing a whitening agent."
Thanks to a recent New York University (NYU) study, you can add this pale wine to your list of drinks that can stain your teeth. "The acids in wine create rough spots and grooves that enable chemicals in other beverages that cause staining, such as coffee and tea, to penetrate deeper into the tooth," says Dr. Mark Wolff, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Cariology and Comprehensive Care at NYU College of Dentistry, who oversaw the study, in an NYU press release. Red wine is still the worst wine stainer, the study's findings confirm. One last tip from Dr. Wolff: "The best way to prevent staining caused by wine, as well as other beverages, is to use a toothpaste containing a whitening agent."
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Worst Things for Your Teeth
Milk
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Cough Medicine
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Lemonade
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Swimming Pools
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White Wine
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Medicine
Some antibiotics and over-the-counter medications can dull your smile, says Kimberly Harms, D.D.S., of the American Dental Association. Tetracycline can turn teeth yellow in small children and its derivative, minocycline, can cause a permanent bluish-gray stain in adults. Certain antihistamines can also discolor teeth. Make an appointment with your dentist to discuss all the medications you take (prescription and otherwise) to find out the impact on your teeth and if, in some cases, there are other alternatives.
Excessive Fluoride
Fluoride is generally good for your smile but too much of it can cause chalky white spots to appear on your teeth, according to Harms. Although it's rare (and a bigger concern for children than adults), people can get too much fluoride from drinking water with high concentrations of fluoride, or from excessive use of fluoride-containing toothpastes. Use a sensible pea-sized amount of toothpaste each time you brush, suggests Harms.
Genetics and Aging
As you get older your teeth have less of a chance of staying paper white. That's because the enamel of your teeth wears thin and the natural yellow or brown color of the underlying dentin layer shows through, explains Harms. You can also thank mom and dad for the intensity of the whiteness of your teeth -- some people just have naturally brighter or thicker enamel than others.
Dental Damage
Root canals are not only painful procedures, but over time trauma can cause a tooth to become discolored. Even damage to the teeth from an accident or fall can cause discoloration in both children and adults. "Any time the tooth dies, it may discolor," says Harms.
Dark Drinks
Coffee and tea are well-known teeth stainers, but many dark liquids, like fruit juice, red wine and soda can also turn teeth yellow. Even beer, which has acidic properties, can damage your smile. "Basically, anything that can stain your carpet can stain your teeth," Harms says. Swig some water around your mouth after drinking dark liquids to offset their staining power. Sipping your drinks through a straw can also help protect your front teeth.
Continued: Nutrition Bars and Cavities
The inherent problem with nutrition bars is that we mostly consume on the go, which means that we don't necessarily have access to toothpaste and a toothbrush. If you know you're going to be eating a nutrition bar after a workout, Price suggests brushing and flossing before you begin exercising so you can at least start off with a clean mouth. If that's not an option, drinking water can help saliva dissolve any food remnants left in the mouth, giving the bacteria less to feed on.
If the thought of getting a cavity isn't enough cause for concern, "there's a strong correlation between advanced gum disease and cardiac problems as well as heavy plaque build up and pneumonia," says Price. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, people with periodontal disease or advanced gum disease are almost twice as likely to develop heart disease. University of Buffalo researchers found that advanced gingivitis may allow bacteria in the mouth to enter the bloodstream and trigger the liver to make certain proteins, which are predictors for increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
You don't need to give up your favorite nutrition bars if they work for you. You just need to be aware that the chewier the bar, the worse it is for your teeth. If you don't have floss or a toothbrush handy, make sure to drink plenty of water before and after consuming a nutrition bar.
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FerAndr4 09:22:22 AM Nov 14 2009
don't eat or drink anything----the stuff will ruin your health---how sad-------and the food "experts" should find something else to do with their time ---
RoseCityfriend 03:10:44 PM Oct 19 2009
I notice that this article also focuses on WHITENESS of teeth, not health per se. That's why they diss red wine, blueberries, cherries, etc. when actually those foods are good for health. There's also some bad health advice. Sure, you should brush after taking cough medicine before bed, but water down a baby's milk bottle?? How about hold the baby and take the bottle out of her mouth when she gets sleepy? This story is more an ad for whitening toothpaste than a thoughtful summary of health science.
JMcgaw3046 12:33:32 PM Oct 19 2009
It is a wonder that there are any people left on earth. They come up with one study after another, tell you to do this, eat this. Then another one comes along and sey if you do this or eat this you will die. We have too much to choose from, and no one really is sure what is good and what is bad. Some studies are done by the companies selling the stuff. The goverment studies are done by people who have a job no matter what they turn out. Go back a long time ago, the stuff we ate the things we did, should have killed off the uman race, but we are still ticking and growning bigger.The way I look at each and every one of these studies is take them with a grain of salt. O we should not use salt.
chilco99 10:46:46 PM Oct 17 2009
YEAH RIGHT. IT'S NUTRITION BARS................. WHATEVER!
Akb1772 10:31:20 PM Oct 17 2009
yeah you would figure they could control that spam crap seeing as how they manage to keep swearing off here. i would rather read a bunch of filth than read one more crappy comment about losing weight or meeting rich idiots
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