Cookies, cakes, candy and sodas - wherever you go, there are sugary treats to tempt you and your children.
Cookies, cakes, candy and sodas - wherever you go, there are sugary treats to tempt you and your children. The effects of sugar on teeth may not be noticeable, but there are also many that can cause cavities. Here you will find information on how sugar can harm your family's dental health and what you can do to prevent it.
Acid attacks
When you eat or drink foods that are sugary, refined, processed, or in the form of carbohydrates, you are feeding the beast. Bacteria in your mouth digest the foods you eat that specifically feed on sugar, producing acids that can slowly dissolve tooth enamel and lead to cavities. These acids do the most damage to teeth in the first 20 minutes after eating; This is what is known as an 'acid attack.' The more sugary foods you eat each day, the more exposed your teeth are to the acids that cause cavities.
Sensitive food options
What can you do to protect your family from these ever-present acid attacks? Eliminating sugars entirely from the family diet is unrealistic, because most foods contain some type of sugar or starch. However, you can still control the amount of sugar you and your family consume and reduce the total time your teeth are exposed to bacterial acids. Consider the following dietary adjustments:
Eat a nutritious and balanced diet of grains, fruits, vegetables, protein, and low-fat dairy products.
Check food labels for information on 'hidden' sugars.
Limit snacking between meals.
Avoid sugary foods that stay in your mouth for a long time, such as hard, sticky, or chewy candy varieties.
Offer healthy snacks like cheese, fruit, yogurt, peanut butter, milk chocolate, and sugar-free gum.
Save your sugary treats to eat at the end of a meal or before a toothbrushing session, rather than throughout the day.
Substitute water for fruit juices and sugar-laden soft drinks.
Oral hygiene is a good defense
Brushing your teeth carefully after eating cleans the teeth of residual food, sugary foods and bacteria on the teeth and flossing once a day to clean between the teeth - the first place where bacteria hide. Encourage your family to use fluoride toothpaste as an added defense to strengthen teeth, making them more resistant to harmful acids in the future.
Preventive care and early detection
Schedule regular dental check-ups and cleaning appointments for your family; In this way, any signs of tooth decay can be taken care of early. Sealants are recommended to be placed on children's first permanent molars as soon as they appear in the mouth. This thin layer acts as a barrier on the chewing surface of the tooth and protects it from decay-producing acids. Other preventive measures for children include varnishes and fluoridation.
It is undeniable that people love their sugar. In fact, the NIDCR says that the average person in America eats about 147 pounds of it a year - which produces enormous potential for cavities. Make the necessary changes in your family's diet and dental hygiene, because the effects of sugar on your teeth are not seen when your family is preoccupied with the greatest events in life.
What do you think?
How much sugar do you consume, leave us your opinion in the comment box.
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