Analele UniversităŃii din Oradea Fascicula:Ecotoxicologie, Zootehnie i Tehnologii de Industrie Alimentară, 2012 THE INFLUENCE OF FOOD IN DENTAL HEALTH Ciavoi Gabriela* *University of Oradea, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department Dental Medicine, Pta 1 Decembrie nr. 10, Oradea, 410073 Romania, email : gabrielaciavoi@yahoo.com Keywords: dental health, food,oral health INTRODUCTION Teeth play a crucial role in our overall health and well being. Healthy teeth make it possible for us to chew thoroughly, which is important for digestion, and also allow us speak clearly. Oral health should be a priority from birth. By developing wholesome habits from the time you are young, you can enjoy a lifelong healthy smile. Dental health refers to all aspects of the health and functioning of our mouth especially the teeth and gums. Apart from working properly to enable us to eat, speak, laugh (look nice), teeth and gums should be free from infection, which can cause dental caries, inflammation of gums, tooth loss and bad breath. What we eat contributes to your dental health. Cheese, milk, nuts, chicken and other meats are good because they help restore lost two important minerals found in teeth: calcium and phosphorus. Munching on celery sticks, carrots or apples after meals helps clear loose food particles. Oral bacteria feed on carbohydrates, including sugars, therefore avoid snack foods like potato chips and french fries, as well as sweets such as cake, candy and soft drinks. Acidic foods like oranges and lemons should also be eaten sparingly because the acid wears away enamel, the substance that coats and protects teeth. To prevent cavities and maintain good oral health, our diet what we eat and how often you eat are important factors. Changes in our mouth start the minute we eat certain foods. Bacteria in the mouth convert sugars from the foods you eat to acids, and it's the acids that begin to attack the enamel on teeth, starting the decay process. The more often we eat and