Do You Have a Sweet Tooth?

5 Facts You Should Know If You Do!

We all like to indulge once in a while, but sugar can do more damage to our Oral Health.

1. Sugar feeds dental plague biofilm: Your mouth is filled with bacteria, including the harmful bacteria hidden in dental plaque. This bacteria feeds off of the sugar in your foods in order to sustain and once they’re done, they excrete acids that can cause severe damage on the dental enamel that covers your tooth.
2. Eating sugar can lead to tooth pain: There is truth in the old belief that “sugar will rot your teeth”. After bacteria feasts on the sugars in your food, the acids they secrete can wear down on the enamel. Over time, this begins to create a hole in the enamel/cavity, to expose the dentin that lies beneath. Dentin is the soft layer within your tooth that provides access to the nerve.
3. It’s hiding in foods you wouldn’t expect: As we said above, unfortunately sugar is hiding in many “healthy” foods. Check your nutrition labels.
4. Moderation is key: Best way to avoid damage, is to avoid eating it as much as possible. However, you do not need to give it up entirely. Just be mindful of taking care of your teeth after indulging. Remember to brush your teeth ½ to 1 hour after eating and drink plenty of water to maintain your oral health.

KEY TIPS!

1. Eat whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat bread and whole grains pasta.
2. Fish, poultry, beans and nuts are all examples of healthy protein.
3. Eat plenty of fruit of all colours and plenty of vegetables – the greater the variety the better.
4. Eat dairy products in moderation. Drink water.
5. Avoid sweets, biscuits and cakes, as they are high in sugar and lead to tooth decay.
6. Limit fizzy drinks and acidic fruit juices as they are harmful to teeth and lead to erosion.