Midnight snacks mean bad teeth

21/06-10 kl. 06:00 Research / Health Science

Photo: Photos.com Late night nibbles can lead to loss of teeth, say experts

Watch out for those late evening World Cup soccer snacks. Eating food late at night can cause serious damage to teeth, warn University of Copenhagen researchers

by Luci Ellis

As well as piling on the kilos, late night snacks are also harmful to your teeth, according to the results of a University of Copenhagen study, published in the Journal of Eating Behaviours.

This is according to the British news site bbc.co.uk.

Eat late, lose teeth

Researchers examined medical records of 2,217 Danes and found that indulging in midnight snacks increase the risk of tooth loss, regardless of the type of food eaten.

Over a period of six years, a significant finding emerged.

The nocturnal eaters ended up losing more teeth, even after accounting for other factors such as age, smoking and sugar/carbohydrate consumption.

Dry mouth to blame

The study shows that changes in saliva flow are to blame. Spit removes food debris from the mouth, and we tend produce less at night

Nocturnal eating, when the mouth is driest, means that food remains in the mouth longer. This increases the dental risks of consuming sugary and acidic food and drinks.

The researchers say that dentists ought to make patients aware of the risks of late night nibbles.

luci@adm.ku.dk

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