Do you have a sweet tooth? We cannot blame you if you do. Eating a piece of cake or pie or a scoop of ice cream is a delicious treat. However, many of us are guilty of consuming more sugar than we need in terms of our physical and dental health.
Our Huge Sugar Intake
The American Medical Association reports that the average American eats around 350 calories in added sugar each day, which is way too much. While this figure may surprise you, added sugar can show up in a host of foods and beverages. Cakes, bread, and pastries, even those made with whole grains, have a lot of added sugar. If you love soda or juice, you are getting added sugar in your beverages. Even healthy trail mix tends to have added sugar.
Why Is Sugar So Bad For My Teeth?
Sugar is bad for teeth mainly because of what it does in your mouth. Your mouth is full of bacteria, both good and bad. The good bacteria help you digest food. However, the bad bacteria are responsible for both cavities and periodontal disease. The fewer bad bacteria you have in your mouth, the less likely you are to have issues with your teeth and gums. That is because the bad bacteria in your mouth create acids, which eat away at your tooth enamel and can infect your gums as well.
All bacteria need food to survive, and carbohydrates and sugars attract bacteria. Bacteria consume the food particles in your mouth and create acid. The more sugar and carbohydrates you take in, the more acid you are likely to have in your mouth, causing trouble for your dental health.
What Should I Do?
To keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible, you need to keep the amount of sugar you eat each day at under 10 percent of your daily caloric intake except for special occasions. If you do continue to eat sugar, brush and floss your teeth immediately afterward to get rid of both bacteria and sugar particles. Also, keep your regular dental appointments so we can check in on your teeth and gums. Give us a call today to set up your next appointment.
Brush & Floss Dental Center, 4949 Main Street Stratford, CT 06614; (203) 683-5253; stratfordctdentist.com; 11/19/2024; Related Phrases: dentist Stratford CT;
Do you have a sweet tooth? We cannot blame you if you do. Eating a piece of cake or pie or a scoop of ice cream is a delicious treat. However, many of us are guilty of consuming more sugar than we need in terms of our physical and dental health.