The study indicated gamers who are prolonged to a substantial amount of screen time are more than twice as likely to develop tooth decay and caries as those with more active lifestyles.
It was shown that while playing computer games, teenagers are far more likely to consume foods and snacks which have especially high levels of sugar.
Chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Nigel Carter was pleased to see this study add to the growing research into the habits of decay and caries sufferers and he highlights the importance of a stable diet for good oral health.
Nigel said: ‘This study helps our understanding of the dietary habits and subsequent decay risk of gamers when the effects have previously been unknown. Every time you eat or drink anything sugary, your teeth are under acid attack for up to one hour. This is because the sugar will react with the bacteria in plaque (the sticky coating on your teeth) and produce the harmful acids. So it is important to keep sugary foods only to mealtimes, limiting the amount of time your mouth is at risk. Acidic foods and drinks can be just as harmful to your teeth. The acid erodes the enamel, exposing the dentine underneath. This can make the teeth sensitive and unsightly.’
The study, which examined teenagers between 12 and 16, suggested dietary habits leading to decay are associated with screen activities and that computer games, if associated with increased snacking are associated with decay experience.
It was found those children who had parental rules regarding screen time and diet were less likely to eat or drink while watching television/video games than subjects without parental rules.
In addition, those participants without structured eating patterns were over 30 per cent more likely to have caries than subjects with structured patterns.
Nigel added: ‘It is better for your teeth and general health if you eat three meals a day instead of having seven to 10 snack attacks. If you do need to snack between meals, choose foods that do not contain sugar. The main point to remember is that it is not the amount of sugar you eat or drink, but how often you do it. Sweet foods are allowed, but it is important to keep them to mealtimes.
The research, entitled Video gaming teenagers: An examination of diet and caries was carried out by Jordon Poss at the University of Iowa and was presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research in Washington.
Video gaming has become increasingly popular among adolescents over the last decade. Numerous studies over the past few years have shown that while 50 per cent of teenagers have a video console in their bedroom, 97 per cent of all teens play video games regularly.