How do food and drink affect caries?

Families will benefit from learning that the frequency of carbohydrate exposure is important in the pathogenesis of early childhood caries (ECC). So, a break from carbohydrate consumption benefits the mouth. When S. mutans digest fermentable carbohydrates, they produce an acid with a pH of around 3. This acid erodes the enamel surface of the teeth.

The pH of the mouth will be acidic after a sugary snack of beverage for about 40–50 minutes. If the child frequently snacks, the pH of the mouth will remain acidic and the tooth enamel at risk for cavities. Reducing the frequency of food/snacks will allow saliva to return the teeth to a normal pH of around 7.