Play TV And Computer Games And Be At Risk From Acid Attack
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010Why your dental health can be damaged by video gaming.
Parents have been complaining for years that their children are stuck in front of a monitor all day playing video games instead of being outside playing sports. Your overall health can be improved by partaking in physical activity; this is a well-known fact.
If you spend your time sitting in front of a gaming console or PC monitor, your physical condition will not improve. Things are even worse as a recent study shows. Video gaming and snacking at the same time often leads to weight problems and now the study also suggests that snacking is leading to poor levels of oral health among gaming teenagers.
There is evidence that those who spend a lot of time in front of a games console are twice as likely to suffer from tooth decay than those who prefer sports. This is a topic of grave concern to dental insurance providers who often actively encourage the general public to participate more fully in both physical and dental health activities
The research suggests that teenagers who spend most of their time gaming are more likely to consume foods and snacks with higher levels of sugar. Tooth decay, like obesity and diabetes, is a possible result of this.
The popularity of online games and in-home gaming systems is not confined to youngsters; adults love them too. Oral care and personal hygiene are often ignored by people too involved with playing games. The previously unknown link between the dietary habits of gamers and their subsequent risk of tooth decay has, according to Dr Nigel Carter, Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, been revealed by this study. He went on to highlight how important a stable diet was to maintain good oral health.
Gamers are under acid attack
Habitual gamers spend hours in front of the gaming consoles surrounded by bottles of fizzy drinks and bags of snacks on which they are continually snacking. All the time the gamers are attacking video opponents, they are also under attack from the foods they are eating.
Snack foods contain more sugars and preservatives. Sugars can keep teeth under acid attack for up to an hour after consuming the snack. The amount of bacteria responsible for attacking the teeth and gums will be increased by the reaction between sugars and plaque.
Just as harmful are acidic foods. Sugary foods can be less damaging to teeth and gums than a packet of salt and vinegar crisps. The vulnerability to attack of the teeth is increased by the fact that the acids in the snacks soften and weaken the enamel.
The importance of parental rules.
The study focused on teenagers between the ages of 12 and 16. It found that those who avoided snacking whilst playing games or watching TV were less likely to develop tooth decay or gum disease than those who continually snacked.
By watching TV and snacking under parental control the chances of developing serious tooth and gum problems was reduced by 30%.
The amount of sugar and acid remaining in the mouth and attacking the teeth and gums is far greater when food is constantly snacked throughout the day than it is if meals are taken at regular intervals.
If you want your children to have healthy teeth and gums, regulate what they eat and when they eat it.
If you want to keep your natural teeth looking good, you should eat sensibly, pay attention to your oral hygiene, and visit your dentist regularly. Dental checkups can be carried out in less than thirty minutes and are not expensive. You can even get your dental insurance to pay for for a check-up or oral hygiene visit and really put a smile on your face.