Diet has a significant impact on a person’s oral health. Eating certain foods can cause tooth decay or gum disease. A poor diet can also lead to poor nutrition, which can cause oral health problems such as premature tooth loss and bad breath (halitosis).

The mouth naturally contains bacteria that rest on a person’s teeth in a sticky film called dental plaque. These bacteria feed on food particles and release acids that eat away at the enamel of a person’s teeth for 20 minutes or more after each meal or snack. This erosion is the major cause of dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. Certain types of sugary or starchy junk foods (e.g., candy, cookies, cakes and sodas) or healthier foods (e.g., certain fruits, milk, bread, cereal, processed food) can produce more of the acid and thus cause more dental decay.

Frequent snacking is particularly bad for oral health, because the cycle of acid creation and destruction of enamel repeats with each snacking session. In addition, foods that are especially sticky (e.g., candies) stay in the mouth longer and cause more damage.

A person’s diet can also affect other aspects of overall health such as poor nutrition. In fact, people who lack proper nutrition may experience the symptoms in their mouths first before the effects are felt in the rest of the body.

Certain populations face their own special challenges in regard to diet and oral health. For example, children are often attracted to sugary foods that are less healthy. Some elderly people eat inadequately or consume large amounts of soft foods, which may be high in the carbohydrates and sugars that can lead to tooth decay.

Vegans (vegetarians who do not eat any animal products) are at risk for oral health problems unless they find alternative sources of some vitamins and minerals, such as protein and calcium. People with eating disorders may have poor oral health due to a lack of nutrition and repeated vomiting of stomach acid, which damages tooth enamel.