2.5 Dietary Counseling
Education should focus on consuming foods and beverages high in sugar less often and for shorter periods of time and on consuming them with meals instead of as snacks.53 Using fluoridated toothpaste can counteract the destructive effects of sugar exposures as long as such exposures are limited to no more than three per day.54 Patients should be informed about “hidden sugars,” such as those found in processed foods. Most people know there is sugar in candy, cake, and cookies, but they may not be aware that sugar is added to products such as sweetened cereals. Oral health professionals should help patients identify alternatives to foods high in sugar. Convincing people to change their eating habits can be difficult. In some cases, a small change in behavior, such as giving a child dessert after a meal rather than before bed and offering cheese as an evening snack may reduce the child’s risk for caries. Chewing sugar-free gum or eating cheese after a meal or snack stimulates saliva production and reduces the caries-causing potential of high-carbohydrate foods.55–57 It may be helpful to provide patients at high and very high risk for dental caries with contact information for registered dietitians and other nutritionists. |
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Dentists and dental hygienists should inform patients about the role that foods and beverages high in sugar play in infection and destruction of teeth.
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