Why video gaming can be injurious to your teeth and gums.
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.
Improvement of your physical health is not likely if you spend hours sitting in front of a PC monitor or gaming console. It is, according to a recent survey, even worse. According to this study, snacking whilst video gaming can result in weight problems and a deterioration in oral health.
By spending your time in front of a gaming console rather than playing sports your chances of developing tooth decay are doubled. 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. This not only leads to obesity and potentially diabetes but also is more likely to cause tooth decay.
The popularity of online games and in-home gaming systems is not confined to youngsters; adults love them too. Many neglect such ordinary things as oral care and basic personal hygiene because they become so concerned with the games they are playing. Dr Nigel Carter, Chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said “This study helps our understanding of the dietary habits and subsequent decay risk of gamers when the effects have previously been unknown”. 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. The foods they are eating are attacking their teeth at the same time as they are attacking their video opponents.
There is a higher level of sugars and preservatives in snack foods. The teeth continue to be attacked by the acid derived from the sugar in the snack for nearly an hour after consumption. The reaction between plaque and sugars will lead to an increase in the amount of bacteria attacking the teeth and gums.
Just as harmful are acidic foods. Gums and teeth can suffer more damage as a result of eating a packet of salt and vinegar crisps than by eating sugary foods. The enamel surface of the teeth becomes less resistant to attack as a result of the acids in the snacks.
The importance of parental rules.
The study focused on teenagers between the ages of 12 and 16. It suggested that those youngsters who snacked whilst playing games or watching TV were more likely to suffer tooth decay and gum disease than those who avoided snacking.
The likelihood of developing significant tooth and gum problems was 30% less for TV watching children whose snacking was under parental control than it was for those who snacked without such supervision.
Avoid snacking, which leaves acid and sugar in the mouth for a long time; instead take regular meals in order to minimize this contact with the teeth and gums.
If you want your children to have healthy teeth and gums, regulate what they eat and when they eat it.
The only way of looking after your natural teeth is to have regular checkups with your dentist and to eat sensibly and stick to a good daily oral hygiene regimen. A dental checkup need take no more than half an hour and is 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.