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Maintaining good oral health seems to be something that more and more people aren't paying attention to. With vending machines around every corner and strong messages through advertising tempting us to eat the latest taste-bud sensation dentists are becoming increasingly worried that many of us are not eating properly balanced diets and are filling up with foods like crisps, fizzy soda's and sweetened fruit juices. The phrase, 'You are what you eat' springs to mind. A lot of snack food contains very little in nutritional value, and put us at risk of developing tooth decay and other dental problems. Who wants root canal? Certainly not me!

Children and teens are easily swayed to eat snacks that appear 'hip' or 'cool' but leaves there teeth looking anything but that. How does this tooth decay occur? Well when sugary and starch foods come into contact with plaque (bacteria) acid is produced. This acid attacks our teeth (for up to 20 minutes after eating) and can lead to tooth decay.

Tooth decay can be a major problem for people of any age. A small film of plaque constantly develops sticking to the teeth. This stickiness is what makes the acid so effective at attacking the enamel of the teeth. It keeps it in contact with the enamel. Once the enamel has been broken down, cavities begin to form. Brushing twice daily will remove the sticky plaque formed on the teeth but if the teeth aren't brushed daily this plaque will harden into calculus or tartar. Gingivitis can occur, which is the early stage of gum disease, if the teeth aren't brushed regularly. It also makes brushing less effective and can even cause the gums to bleed when brushing.

The foods that can cause tooth decay even include vegetables and milk as they contain sugars and starches. You may think that cutting them out of your diet would be the right thing to do. These foods, however, should not be removed from your daily diet as they contain other nutrients necessary that contribute to maintaining a healthy body. The ideal thing to do is read the labels on products that you buy and try to choose products that are low in added sugars. These are the same added sugars found in the types of foods mentioned above, such as crisps, candy, fizzy soda's and cookies.

One of the major causes of gum disease in adults is the lack of important nutrients which help the mouth fight or resist infection. This gum disease is known as periodontal disease, and is the major cause of loss of teeth in adults.