Another extremely important choice we all must make in regards to overall oral hygiene is what we put into our mouths and bodies, or in other words, our diet. Why is diet so important? One of the only things that can overpower impeccable oral hygiene in causing cavities is a diet that the bacteria enjoy even more than your body. Everyone has thousands of bacteria hanging around in their mouth at all times that can act as either good guys or bad guys, depending on the environment they are given. That environment is mostly influenced by diet, hygiene, medical conditions and medications. It can take the body roughly thirty minutes to naturally clear out a food or drink once it has been ingested. The concern with frequent snacking and sipping on beverages is that every time your body is finishing a cleanup, the bacteria are provided with another round of food to keep them going. It is the difference between a battering ram being swung at a gate once, or being allowed to slowly gain momentum and repeatedly weaken the gate. As your pediatric dentist in Indianapolis, I implore you and your children to avoid snacking on sticky, sugary foods between meals and drink plenty of water instead of coffee with creamer/sugar, sports drinks and sodas.