Unhealthy eating habits are becoming increasingly widespread today, leading to an increase in tooth decay. Anadolu Health Center Oral and Dental Health Department Clinical Coordinator Dt. Arzu Tekkeli, who expresses that teeth decay rapidly, especially with the intensive consumption of sugar, carbohydrates, and acidic foods, along with neglecting the necessary importance of dental hygiene, stated, “Individuals who do not pay attention to regular dental cleaning and oral care, emphasize carbohydrates and sugar-containing foods in their diets, do not brush their teeth before bedtime, are fed with foods with added sugar to bottles during infancy, and consume excessive amounts of acidic foods are at risk of tooth decay.”

Specific bacteria in our mouths convert the sugar and carbohydrates we consume into acid, destroying the minerals on the tooth surface. Dt. Arzu Tekkeli, the Clinical Coordinator of the Oral and Dental Health Department at Anadolu Health Center, who states that these acids, although initially small, rapidly grow over time and create cavities called decay, said, “Avoiding sugary, acidic, and high-carbohydrate foods in our diet, brushing our teeth at least twice a day but preferably after every main meal, using products that support brushing such as dental floss and mouthwash, and not neglecting dental check-ups every six months contribute to preventing tooth decay.”

Processed and packaged foods accelerate tooth decay

Sharing information that tooth decay is more common in developing countries, Dt. Arzu Tekkeli said, “In societies weakened socio-culturally due to limited financial means, tooth decay is more frequently encountered because processed and packaged foods are preferred more. Also, not receiving sufficient oral and dental health education from both families and schools is among the factors influencing this situation. In the past, people not using sugar and consuming food less cooked and more solid had a positive effect on dental health. Although the information that hard foods clean teeth naturally is correct, constantly consumed packaged, processed foods, acidic beverages, and carbohydrates cooked and made soft today can lead to the widespread occurrence of tooth decay.”

Don’t leave a sugary or sticky food to the end of a meal

Emphasizing that food items defined as harmful to dental health are especially sugary and acidic foods that stick to and cannot be easily cleaned from the teeth, Tekkeli said, “If sugary, sticky, or acidic foods are to be consumed, they should be consumed within three main meals, and teeth should be brushed after meals. If brushing your teeth at that moment is not possible, rinse your mouth with water or drink a glass of water. In snacks, choose hard foods like apples and carrots because these foods clean the teeth and massage the gums. Finally, instead of finishing the meal with a sugary or sticky food, it is possible to minimize the decay effect of sugar with a piece of cheese thrown into the mouth last.”

With today’s technology, quick and painless treatment is possible for decay

Highlighting that the first step in treating decay is to stop the advancing decay and preserve the vitality of the tooth, Dt. Arzu Tekkeli said, “The earliest stage of the process of decay on the enamel surface is the white spot lesion. Traditional treatments for these lesions include topical fluoride application and improving oral hygiene. If a cavity occurs on the tooth surface, the goal is to stop the decay from progressing to the pulp tissue and to make a simple one-session filling. However, if the decay has progressed to the pulp of the tooth, the procedure to be performed is the removal of the tooth’s nerves, filling the canals, and making an upper filling for the tooth. Contrary to what is feared, tooth decay can be treated painlessly and quickly with today’s technology and new generation dental tools. When we compare tooth extraction with the old times and today, the primary goal now should be to consider the tooth as one of our body’s other organs and try to keep it in the mouth for as long as possible. As doctors, we aim to provide the best treatment for our patients by using state-of-the-art devices, the highest quality materials, and the knowledge we have accumulated over the years to achieve this goal.”