Bad teeth? Stop eating ready meals and chew like a caveman

Bad teeth? Stop eating ready meals and chew like a caveman
By Charlotte Dovey
....................
CAVITIES
In our ancestors’ time, dental cavities were a problem of old age.
Indeed, in fossils of ancient humans ‘you can count the cases of dental cavities on one hand,’ says Professor Hillson.

But tooth decay is now one of the most widespread health problems in the UK — with 55per cent of adults having one or more decayed teeth.
Many under-15s already have some decay in their adult teeth.
The increase is being put down to the emergence of farming.
Cultivating crops means people started to consume more grains and carbohydrates, rather than nuts, meat and vegetables.
‘Food high in carbohydrates leads to the bacteria in your mouth producing acid, which dissolves the tooth,’ explains Philip Marsh, professor of oral microbiology at Leeds Dental Institute.
But the greatest change occurred when we started eating pure sugar.
‘Prior to the 18th century sugar was a luxury, but post-1800s — when Britain took control of the West Indies and started to import considerably more sugar than previously — it became more widely available,’ says Dr Carter.
‘As a result, so did terrible teeth full of cavities.’
WHAT TO DO

‘Some U.S. experts believe orthodontic work, to correct these problems, could be started earlier,’ says Professor Steele — as early as four years old.
Eating tougher meat and coarse grain to build bigger jaws has also been suggested. But that would take centuries to have an effect.
‘It’s better to eat a wide variety of foods and cut down on sugar,’ says Dr Carter.
‘And if you crave fizzy drinks, drinking them ice-cold can help.
'Acids produced by bacteria in the mouth in reaction to cold drinks damage teeth less.
'And use a straw to ensure teeth have less contact with the sugar.’