A look at how a meat-free diet can be challenging for oral health.
Vegetarianism is increasing every year, and its effects are already visible in the oral health of people in Finland as well as in all Western countries. A diet rich in vegetables, berries, and fruit is healthy for the body because of its vitamin and trace element content, but it is also known to cause dental erosion because of its acidity.
There are many different versions of vegetarian diets. The types are divided according to the proportion of animal products in the diet. A vegetarian diet consists mainly of plant products. A vegan diet, on the other hand, means that a person does not eat any animal products such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, and their derivatives.
In Finland, less than 10 per cent of the population are vegetarians, of which a few per cent are vegans. Both vegan and vegetarian diets have an impact on oral health. For people who have changed their diet, these changes often come as a surprise, says dentist Pirta Liljekvist.
According to Pirta, dental erosion is a rapidly growing problem, especially among young people. Studies show that around one in five Finns have obvious erosion damage to their teeth. Severe erosive wear is found in around five to 10 per cent of the population. Pirta says that dental erosion is even a relatively underdiagnosed oral problem today, with many people blaming it on other tooth wear, such as teeth grinding.
Acidity
Dental erosion can be caused by any acidic substance coming into contact with tooth enamel or dental bone. The amount and properties of saliva in the mouth also contribute to the development of erosion. In a dry mouth, the acidic product stays on teeth surfaces for a long time, making them more susceptible to damage. Dental erosion can be caused by nutrients with a pH below 5.5. If an acidic food contains calcium, such as milk or yoghurt, erosion does not occur because the calcium acts as a buffer against acid attack.
Impact
Research has shown that a vegan diet can predispose you to tooth erosion and lead to tooth demineralisation.
In demineralisation, bacterial metabolism in the mouth produces acids from sugars and other carbohydrates, which dissolve minerals in the enamel. The risk of tooth decay is increased by inadequate self-care, snacking throughout the day, and high sugar intake.
White spot lesions are usually caused by a decrease in the mineral content of tooth enamel. Such lesions can also form on the tooth surface as a result of long-term orthodontic treatment.
There are many reasons why a vegan diet may predispose to demineralisation and white spot enamel damage. One likely cause is the high intake of starchy and sugar-based carbohydrates in a vegan diet. Vegans may also eat more times a day than recommended to reach their recommended daily calorie intake.
Research suggests an appropriate number of meals per day is five to six. This gives saliva time to neutralise the acidity in the mouth and allows minerals to reharden on the teeth surfaces. Constant snacking leads to an increase in the number of acid attacks during the day and causes both tooth decay and mica damage.
Care
Diet has a big impact on oral health. Studies have found more acid erosion in vegetarians than in omnivores. The same is likely to be true for vegans, who are also more likely than mixed eaters to eat more fruit, vegetables, and greens, which in turn lowers the pH of saliva and leads to dental erosion.
Vegans need to be aware of the hidden sugars in their diets, which are often marketed as foods containing 'natural' sugars. They should also do their best to monitor and limit their dietary intake of acids, which increases their risk of caries and dental erosion even further.
According to Pirta, cases of dental erosion have increased over the past 15 years, but not only because of the rise in vegetarian diets. Eating habits have also become more challenging for maintaining oral health. In addition to the increase in snacking, the consumption of energy drinks and fizzy drinks, for example, has increased significantly.
Drinking large quantities of smoothies, fruit juices, and water flavoured with lemon, for example, can also have a negative impact on oral health.
Fluoride in toothpaste strengthens teeth. The impact of gum diseases such as periodontal disease on the oral health of vegans has not been thoroughly investigated, but studies have found a link between low vitamin B12 levels and increased loss of adhesive dental tissue in patients.
If gingivitis is not addressed in time, the gum pockets will deepen and the bacteria that cause periodontal disease – so-called periodontal pathogens – will penetrate deep into the gum pockets and multiply, aggravating the mouth, causing further problems and, in the worst cases, even lead to tooth loss.
A varied vegetarian diet provides in general a good supply of most nutrients, but some supplements such as vitamin D can also be needed for maintaining oral health.
If the diet is low in foods of animal origin, vitamin B12, iron, and calcium should also be supplemented if necessary. Their deficiency can lead to oral diseases such as aggravation of recurrent aphthae ulcers and also the development of white spots.
It is also worth paying attention to toothpaste. The use of fluoride toothpaste is recommended for everyone to reduce the risk of tooth decay. Fluoride is vegan-friendly and vegan toothpaste containing fluoride is available. However, it is worth making sure that your toothpaste does contain fluoride, as many vegan kinds of toothpaste do not.
A healthy mouth
Oral health is part of a person's overall health, and studies have shown that a vegetarian diet can also have many benefits, including reducing the risk of cancer, obesity, and heart disease.
A healthy lifestyle, good oral hygiene, and regular visits to the dentist and oral hygienist can help maintain excellent oral health.
Regular use of Lumoral reduces the harmful bacterial load in the mouth to reduce the risk of tooth decay and gingivitis, thus preventing the development of periodontitis. An effective way to combine treatment by an oral health professional with enhanced self-care at home is to include Lumoral as part of a traditional oral hygiene routine of regular brushing and cleaning between teeth.
References available on request.