The impact of diet on general + oral health

Question 1

All foods

Answer 1

are classified into 3 groups: protein, fat + carbohydrate

Question 2

Only carbohydrate

Answer 2

can be turned into acid by bacteria + therefore cause caries

Question 3

The most acid producing carbohydrate

Answer 3

are those that are artificially added during food preparation + tend to be known as non-milk extrinsic sugars (NME), the most damaging ones are refined sugars

Question 4

Naturally occurring sugars

Answer 4

that produce so little organic acid, they are considered harmless to teeth include intrinsic sugars + milk extrinsic sugars

Question 5

Good snacks;

Answer 5

non citrus fruit, raw veg, unflavoured crisps, low fat cheese, unsweetened yoghurt

Question 6

Hidden sugar foods:

Answer 6

cooking sauces (especially tomato based), tomato ketchup, flavoured crisps, tinned fruit in syrup, breakfast cereals, jam, soups

Question 7

Bad snacks:

Answer 7

energy drinks, sweets, biscuits, carbonated drinks, citrus fruit juice, tea + coffee with sugar

Question 8

Saliva’s role

Answer 8

fluid bathing the oral cavity, it maintains the mouth at neutral PH level (PH7)
when weak organic acids are produced, the PH level starts to fall + once it passes the critical level of 5.5 the environment is acidic enough for demineralisation to take place

Question 9

The frequency of sugar intake

Answer 9

determines what happens next. if the mouth experiences more periods of demineralisation than remineralisation due to snacking, caries will occur

Question 10

The nurse will offer info + advice on:

Answer 10

identify sources of these products in available foods + separate them as bad + hidden sugars
identify sources individuals diet possibly with diet sheet
advise on the importance of frequency intake
make suggestions about changes that can be made to the diet

Question 11

A visual resource

Answer 11

of unhealthy foods + drinks can be shown to emphases the number of products to be reduced or avoided (may be poster,leaftlet, food + drink wrappers) the products linked to caries that are consumed by children are likely to differ from those consumed + causing caries in adults

Question 12

Diet sheets

Answer 12

can be used to recommend which foods should be avoided/reduced when it is safer for them to consume otherwise, at what times oral hygiene techniques should be carried out + if any specific products will be helpful e.g sugar free gum, enamel protection mouthwash

Question 13

Detergent foods

Answer 13

taken after a meal to when toothbrushing is not possible or as health snack alternative
raw, fibrous fruit or veg such as apples, pears, carrots, celery. their tough consistency require chewing + stimulate saliva flow thereby helping to scour teeth clean of food remnants (won’t affect plaque but removes food)

Question 14

Cheese

Answer 14

stimulates saliva, neutralises acid + enhances remineralisation of enamel due to calcium content (hard cheese more beneficial)

Question 15

Sugar free gum

Answer 15

immediately after a meal to remove loose food debris, although excessive use should be discouraged in pts of attrition or bruxing appears