Bacteria in the mouth may be both useful and dangerous. When sugar is consumed the bacteria in the mouth quickly start producing acid. Infectious bacteria feed on sugar, which produces acids that eat away at teeth’s protective enamel. Cavities and holes in teeth are a result from the bacterial infection caused by the acids. If left untreated, cavities may penetrate into the inner layers of teeth, causing discomfort and tooth loss. Fortunately, there are steps we can take to repair the harm that acids produce.
Start by educating yourself with the amount of sugar in foods and drinks. It is also important to be informed of the many different forms and names of sugars in the foods and beverages we consume. What are the foods and drinks consumed daily? For instance most of us drink coffee or tea daily, slowly start decreasing the amount of sugar you sprinkle in your tea or coffee. Over time, taste buds become accustomed to the subtle taste difference and it is an easy step to help reduce your sugar consumption. Switching to agave nectar rather than sugar in your daily coffee is another option. Agave’s glycemic index is lower than sugar’s, it will not cause as much of a jump in blood sugar levels. In addition to being available in most supermarkets, agave nectar is also becoming more common in coffee shops. When agave is not readily available at local coffee shops, or if the taste of agave is an issue, simply reduce the amount of sugar.
When consuming something sweet or sticky try to shorten the amount of time the residue stays on teeth. Leaving sugary, sticky residue on teeth for longer periods of time may cause additional harm to your teeth since they will be exposed to more acidic conditions. To help reduce the residue on your teeth schedule a dental deep cleaning and checkup twice per year.
Whenever the sweet tooth urge starts to kick in be equipped with nutritious sugar-free snacks.
Or make one half of the snack nutritious sugar-free before you indulge. An excellent example is pairing chocolate with almonds, oats, or strawberries. There are many useful resources on the internet that can help you discover and create healthier teeth friendly snacks.
