Late-Night Snacking Contributes to Tooth Loss
Tooth Loss Impacted by Late Night SnackingA study that explores the relationship between nocturnal eating and oral health reveals that late night eating contributes to tooth loss, regardless of the type of food consumed. The team of American and Danish
Late-Night Snacking Contributes to Tooth Loss
A study that explores the relationship between nocturnal eating and oral health reveals that late-night eating contributes to tooth loss, regardless of the type of food consumed. The team of American and Danish researchers behind the study say the reason could be that saliva flow – a process critical to removing food particles – decreases at night.
Researchers at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and colleagues at Copenhagen University gathered 2,217 subjects for the study: men and women between the ages of 30 and 60 years. Among the characteristics investigated were participants’ oral health, eating behavior and general health. These indicators were assessed once between 1987 and 1988, and again between 1993 and 1994.
Data revealed 8% of those tested were nocturnal eaters, which the study defined as individuals who consume at least one-fourth of daily caloric intake sometime after the regular evening meal, or who snack in the middle of the night at least twice a week.
Throughout the study the nocturnal eaters were shown to have lost more teeth when they reached the second assessment in 1993-1994 than non-nocturnal eaters. This finding was adjusted for potential influences such as age, smoking status, and the amount of dietary sugar or carbohydrate present.
The researchers conclude: “In sum, nocturnal eating contributes to tooth loss.”
The study also revealed that test subjects who had higher levels of education were also demonstrated significantly less tooth loss than those who did not complete high school.
The authors suggest that oral health care providers should encourage patients to practice good oral health and help educate them on how nocturnal eating can affect teeth.
Source: Eating Behaviors, August 2010
