DON’T over-indulge.
That’s the rule when it comes to sugary, starchy foods that, when taken in excess, may compromise your teeth and oral health.
How does one measure “excess”? There’s no fast and hard rule. It’s probably safe to say that “once in a blue moon” or once every so often is okay. But not each and every day, and certainly not every so often during the whole day.
What we do know is that there are certain foods that, taken in excess, may impact on teeth and oral health. Especially if you don’t brush your teeth at least twice a day.
Take chips, any kind of chips, from banana chips to potato chips, to all kinds they seem to cook up these days.
Chips may contain starch which is broken down into sugar. We know that sugar in the mouth turns into acid, the acid that erodes the enamel, the protective cover of your teeth.
Now, banana chips are very popular with Filipinos. Those old enough to remember may recall the popularity of sinugbo, the iconic Visayan “chip” of thinly sliced banana bathed in an abundance of sugar syrup. Namit, as the Ilongos would call it.
It so happens that unripe bananas may contain up to 80 percent starch; ripe bananas are sweet because they contain sugar.
And so it is with sweet potato, our very own kamote.
Boiled sweet potato about the size of your fist are made mostly of starch which makes up to half of its carb content. Sugars such as glucose, fructose, sucrose, and maltose make up a third of the carb content of sweet potato.
How about potato chips? Potatoes are high in starch.
However, as in bananas and sweet potatoes, taken in moderation, they are excellent sources of vitamins. Potatoes, for example, are great sources of vitamin C, vitamin B6, folate, potassium and manganese.
The rule here, as we have said before, is that processed, fried and sugary chips made of bananas, sweet potatoes and potatoes are not to be taken in excess.
We know of course that fruits and vegetables are the go-to when it comes to good health and nutrients.
Take caution though when it comes to dried fruits. The sugar in dried fruits can coat children’s teeth; the sugar stays. When they are broken into sugar, they may cause plaque which, in turn, may result in tooth decay and cavities. This is especially true with sweetened dried fruits.
Now we come to what we all love, back to the days of childhood and stretching to adulthood: candy.
Hard candy, when chewed the wrong way, may damage the teeth. That much is obvious.
We also know that candy is sweet and sugar can produce acid that damages the surface of the teeth enamel. Which, as we have said before, may lead to cavities.
So there you are. And we have listed just a few of the foods that should be avoided to maintain good oral health.
Let me emphasize that these foods, taken in moderation, are not bad. Fresh fruits, bananas, sweet potatoes and potatoes are not bad. It’s only when they are processed and made into sugary merienda items that oral health problems may arise.
Again, take only in moderation and sparingly.
***
Dr. Joseph D. Lim is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; and Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515./PN
