In the 1970s, the range of tooth-friendly sweets was still limited to a few types of chewing gum. Nowadays, consumers can choose from many different products in the store. Think, for example, of liquorice, sour candies, peppermints, and 'chewing sweets', but also chocolate, popsicles, and even vitamin pills.
Cracking open a bag of chips and digging in… Last year, we in the Netherlands ate no less than 34 kilos of chips, candy, and chocolate per person.
Not only candy, but also 'ordinary' foods sometimes contain a lot of sugar. Even if products do not taste sweet, they can contain a lot of sugar.
Caries is the result of 'demineralization' of the tooth enamel. In this process, the tooth enamel slowly dissolves, causing a cavity to form. The culprit is Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium in the mouth that feeds on sugar from food particles. When sugar is consumed, this bacterium secretes lactic acid. The lactic acid causes the tooth enamel to dissolve. Saliva contains substances that facilitate this process and therefore offers protection against cavities. However, with more than five 'acid attacks' a day, the saliva can no longer keep up, and the risk of cavities increases.
It is perfectly fine to have a sweet treat occasionally. Limit the consumption of sweet products to main meals and eat a maximum of two snacks in addition. With this amount, saliva can still protect the teeth against cavities. You can also opt for products with sugar substitutes or sweeteners. These do not cause cavities, even if you eat them regularly as a snack.
