Midnight Snacking Damages Teeth
June 3, 2010 by Mohamed
Filed under Diabetes & General Health, Weight Loss
If you thought that having that late night snack was not doing you any harm – think again. Not only are you adding extra weight needlessly but research is now showing that that midnight snack is also damaging your teeth.
A new Danish study is sounding the alarm on the dangers of nocturnal eating. After examining the medical records of over 2 thousand patients, researchers noted a surprising finding – those who consumed a quarter or more of their daily calories after dinner, or would wake up in the middle of the night at least twice a week to consume food, lost more teeth than non-nocturnal eaters. This held true even after accounting for other factors that may lead to tooth loss including smoking, sugar intake and age.
The reason? The flow of saliva, which helps clean our mouth by removing food debris and bacteria, is decreased during the night. The researchers say, “Practitioners should be aware of the oral health implications of nocturnal eating, increase screening and oral health education efforts among nocturnal eaters and make treatment referrals when appropriate.” And as a general reminder it is still a good idea to brush your teeth twice a day and consume only water during the hour prior to bedtime. [via BBC]
