Tips To Cut Down On Sugar To Reduce Cavities
People have to get false teeth for a variety of reasons – one of which is because their natural teeth have had to be taken out due to cavities and decay. This is entirely preventable, and good oral hygiene is something that we should all practice.
An important step to reduce cavities is to reduce your sugar consumption. You’ve likely heard this all your life and if you adopted good oral hygiene habits early on in life, then you will understand how that can help keep your teeth healthy.
Simply put, if you reduce the amount of sugar you eat, you can reduce the risk of developing cavities. But is it really as simple as that?
How Does Sugar Cause Cavities?
Tooth decay and cavities can be prevented. An important step to achieve this is to cut down on sugar in your diet.
The process that results in tooth decay begins with bacteria. Bacteria in our mouths start to break down the foods we eat and produce acid as a result. This acid combines with the saliva in your mouth to form plaque, which sticks to your teeth. This acid and plaque begin to erode the hard enamel layer of your teeth, exposing the softer layers beneath.
However, it is not only sugary foods that are of concern. Bacteria love carbs, meaning that many foods can have this effect on your teeth. But it is the sugary snacks and drinks that can be of major concern because we tend to snack on them over large amounts of time, producing more acid and decay.
How To Identify Sugar In Your Food
Sugar appears in many different forms in the foods we eat. This is why it is important to read the labels of all foods you consume. Watch for the words fructose, glucose, and sucrose, which are common sweeteners used in many food items.
Honey, fruit juices and syrups also contain sugars. Even though they may be healthier for you, the sugar contained in each of these products can still lead to tooth decay and cavities. The key to preventing this from happening is to fill your daily diet with foods that do not contain high sugar and to cut down on sugar used in foods you prepare for yourself.
How To Protect Teeth From Cavities
There are a few ways in which you can reduce your sugar intake and protect your teeth from developing tooth decay. The most effective way to do this is to carefully monitor the foods you eat.
Read Food Labels
The nutritional food values are published on food labels of everything you eat. Start reading them and paying attention to the column that indicates how much of the ingredients, nutrients, and sugars are in the food. The label chart will reference the amount of sugar per serve.
Reduce your Snacking
Snacks tend to be full of sugar. By cutting down on the snacks, you can consume less sugar and expose your teeth to less acid. Every time you eat, you create more acid in your mouth. So by just sticking to your main meals rather than snacking all day, and rinsing, brushing and flossing after those meals, you expose your teeth to much less acid over the course of each day.
The Best Thing To Do To Reduce Cavities In Baby Teeth
As mentioned, where bacteria and sugar cause the substantial damage is when you eat sugary foods between regular meals. This is especially important for children who love to snack on chips, chocolate, and sugary drinks. The best way to prevent those sugars from turning into acid is to avoid them altogether.
After completing every meal, you can further reduce the bacteria build up by rinsing your child’s mouth out (with mouthwash, or even fresh water) and brushing their teeth. By brushing at least twice a day, you remove that bacteria from the surface of your teeth.
Reduce Sugar and Reduce Your Risk of Cavities
A big step to reducing cavities, keeping your teeth strong and healthy, and ultimately avoid having to resort to false teeth down the track, is to cut down on sugar. When you limit the amount of sugar added to your daily diet primarily by snacking, and follow each meal by brushing and flossing your teeth, you greatly reduce the possibility of developing cavities and tooth decay.
Do you need a dental checkup to check on the condition of your teeth or that of your family’s teeth? If it has been a while between dental checkups, please make sure that you book in with your local dentist ASAP. And in the meantime, practice good dental hygiene to limit any further damage.
