Keep holiday sweet tooth in check Published Dec. 5, 2014 By Staff Sgt. Rebecca Escajeda 56th Dental Squadron LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Assorted sweets are a big attraction on display in stores and are advertised in television commercials. Despite the effort to escape purchasing them and knowing they're not healthy, people still tend to crave, buy and gobble them up. On top of the negative impact these treats have on health and the waistline, over-indulging in these sugary treats can also affect teeth? When eating holiday goodies, the body undeniably wants more of these empty calories, which in turn can be very harmful to teeth. The main reason is the sugars and fermented carbohydrates in sweets adhere to the tooth surface. When that occurs, it creates an ideal environment for bacteria in the mouth to thrive. This type of bacteria uses these types of sugars as a food source. A byproduct of the bacteria is acid. The acid then stays on the tooth's surface, weakening the enamel, the tooth's outer layer, and eventually forming a cavity. Although this is the primary reason for cavity formation, there are also other contributing factors. The first contributing factor is the frequency sweets are eaten. The second factor is how long a person snacks on these sugars. The more of these substances eaten throughout the day, the more the tooth's surface is exposed to acid. The vicious cycle then continues, the longer the acid stays on the tooth, the weaker it becomes. Believe it or not, it only takes about 20 minutes for saliva to neutralize and buffer out the acid intake. For example, if it takes about an hour to finish a soft drink or a candy cane, teeth are under attack from this acid for a full hour and 20 minutes. The more acid intake the weaker the tooth surface becomes, which in turn makes the weakened tooth surface more vulnerable to forming a cavity. You may be asking yourself how you can make better choices to survive the holiday temptation, which will ultimately help to prevent tooth decay. The American Dental Association website mouthhealthy.org recommends that snacking throughout the day be limited and eating a healthy and balanced diet will reduce the risk of getting cavities. The ADA also recommends eating more cheese, plain yogurt, tofu, meat, chicken, fish and almonds, which help protect and rebuild the tooth surface. They also recommend eating fruits and vegetables since they have a high fiber and water content and can help stimulate saliva, which neutralizes acid in the mouth. Also advised is to drink plenty of fluoridated water to keep teeth strong and healthy. Although it is important, diet is not the only key element to preventing cavities; good oral hygiene habits will help to maintain a healthy smile. The ADA recommends brushing at least twice a day with a soft bristle toothbrush for two minutes. Floss at least once a day to aid in removal of sticky food particles that form on the tooth surface. For more information on diet, oral hygiene or dental concerns, visit a local dentist or go to http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/.