Tooth Decay
It is difficult to identify a single component of the diet that causes tooth decay because it is more to do with eating habits and frequency with which items of food are placed into the mouth. Caution needs to be exercised around the frequency of use of Re-fined carbohydrates to include natural and added sugars. Caution also needs to be applied to the use of acids to include natural fruit acids.
The dental examination does not prevent tooth decay. It is a means of identifying problems as they arise. As teeth decay from the inside outwards the examination fails to identify problems until they are relatively well developed. The same applies to dental X-rays early tooth decay is almost impossible to diagnose. The lesions have to be of a significant size to be visualised and by that time the damage has been done. The greater importance of the dental visit is to learn how to best avoid tooth and gum problems. It is the implementation of this information that realises healthier teeth.
It is my greatest experience that the underling eating habits influence tooth and gum health. Whilst the early stages of damage are occurring these do not become apparent at dental check ups, as these changes occur in the deeper structure of the tooth. The lack of negative feedback fails to persuade patients to change their eating habits. The teeth, in the goodness of time, reflect their history by demonstrating cavity after cavity. By this stage the damage has been done and reversal or changes to eating habits do not prevent further damage as the teeth have become relatively weak and the decay process become self propagating.
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