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PUBLISHED ON 04/08/20
As we know, lockdown tends to mean more cookies, cakes and banana bread, as we find ourselves spending more time in the kitchen. Winter also brings about more sugary cravings, as we lean towards comfort food – but too much sugar can affect your teeth and lead to increased risks of tooth decay.
When harmful factors outweigh those that protect the teeth, then tooth decay can form. Certain mouth bacteria that live on the surface of teeth consume the sugar we eat and turn it into acid. The acid sits on the surface of the teeth and pulls minerals out from the tooth’s surface causing it to weaken.
This process happens every time we eat or drink. If these acid attacks occur over and over again and there is not enough protection provided to the teeth, this can result in tooth decay.
Harmful factors include:
– Sugary diet
– Hidden sugars
– Poor oral hygiene
– Frequent snacking
– Mouth bacteria
– Reduced saliva
Factors that protect teeth include:
– Saliva
– Diet
– Regular Brushing
– Regular Flossing
– Fluoride
The WHO recommends limiting added sugar intake to 6 or less teaspoons per day. This equals 24 grams of added sugar or less (1 teaspoon sugar = 4 grams sugar).
To understand the amount of sugar you’re consuming, it’s important to understand how to read nutritional panels. Aim for less than 10 grams of sugar per 100 grams, but less than 5 grams is best. Foods claiming ‘no added sugar,’ often contain a higher level of sugar from natural sources but these sugars can still cause tooth decay.
We usually think of sugar as the white granules we spoon into coffee and tea or add to baking recipes. But sugar comes in many forms and they can all contribute to tooth decay. Sugar can be called over 50 different names, making it hard to detect on food and drink labels. These are known as hidden sugars.
Look out for these names on the ingredient list of nutrition information panels when shopping. Even foods and drinks which claim to have no added or refined sugars, can contain a lot of sugar. The closer the ingredient is to the top of the ingredient list, the more of it present in the food or drink.
Natural sugar refers to the sugar that is naturally present in whole, unprocessed foods and drinks, like the sugars in milk, fruit and yoghurt.
Added sugar is sugar added to foods and drinks during processing, cooking or before eating or drinking, such as white sugar, maple syrup, brown sugar, or rice malt syrup.
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It can be easy to neglect your dental health while in stage 4 restrictions, but it’s important to maintain good dental hygiene habits. Simply brushing twice a day, flossing daily and limiting your sugar intake to 6tsp will ensure good dental health, along with regular dental check-ups.
To book a check up, click here.
