It’s no secret that sugar is the biggest enemy of healthy teeth. Heavy sugar intake can lead to tooth decay, bacterial infections and a host of other problems. It seems that sugar is in every aspect of our food from cakes to bread, but there are ways to reduce the sugar intake for your family and keep their smiles safe and sound.
Sugar not only causes tooth decay but also is a major contributing factor to weight gain, diabetes, and other health issues. Cutting sugar isn’t just a good idea for your teeth, but your overall health and wellbeing.
Sugary Drinks Hide a Lot of Sugar
One of the best things a person can do to reduce sugar is to stop drinking sugary drinks. You may not think that energy drink or soda pop has a lot of sugar, but it’s deceiving. People drink large fountain sodas from restaurants and gas stations not knowing they’re getting a lot of sugar.
Fruit juices also contain a lot of sugar naturally, but many times companies add sugar as well. Soda and energy drinks have no nutritional value, so it’s best to cut them out entirely. Fruit juice is nutritious, but drink it sparingly and only drink juice with no sugar added.
Be careful as many drinks with fruity names actually have little or no fruit juice in them. Read the labels to verify ingredients.
Use Sugar Substitutes
Sugar is often used to add sweetness to various dishes from cakes to meat, but there are several ways to reduce sugar intake through sugar substitutes.
You’ve likely seen several versions in grocery stores from Splenda to Stevia and each has its own pros and cons. They are what are used in diet drinks to maintain sweetness, but reduce the sugar whether it’s cane sugar or high fructose corn syrup.
You can also use other items such as honey and applesauce in recipes where sugar is called for. These have naturally occurring fruit sugars, which aren’t perfect but are far better than standard sugar or corn syrup.
Choose a Diet Low in Carbs
Complex carbohydrates found in bread and pasta are converted to sugar in the body. This is why people with diabetes need to reduce their carbs as it impacts their blood sugar. Diabetes is one of several diseases that can impact your dental health.
Instead, choose healthy alternatives such as lean meats, vegetables, and fruits. This contains a ton of vitamins and minerals and can help keep your smile healthy and radiant.
If you want to learn more or wish to make an appointment with Dr. Ed and his staff, please feel free to contact us.