Most of us know that our diet is important to our waistline. But did you know that what you eat plays a huge role in your oral health as well?
Walk down the aisle of any supermarket and you are bound to see endless foods that have been processed. While these are usually are packed with unhealthy amounts of sodium and fat—the added sugar to these snacks and many other foods is the main culprit in turning your teeth and gums into a disaster area.
Your mouth works to maintain a delicate balance of chemicals that helps keep your teeth and gums healthy. When too much sugar is introduced into the body, your immune system is weakened. To help counter this action, your mouth becomes more acidic. When your saliva becomes acidic, it creates nasty bacteria that stick to the teeth and tongue. This bacteria—plaque—wreaks havoc on your teeth and gums unless it is removed. People that leave plaque untreated run the risk of developing gum disease. Gum disease can lead to many other serious health problems such as increasing your risk of strokes, heart attack, pregnancy problems, and also contributes to bronchitis, pneumonia and emphysema.
The average Canadian eats the equivalent of 40 kg of sugar each year. While we enjoy the occasional dessert as much as anyone, there are many other ways to cut down on your sugar intake!
- Try to choose sugar-free snacks
- Add less sugar to coffee or tea (or use sugar substitutes)
- Avoid sugar-sweetened soft drinks
- Look for fruit juices and drinks with no added sugar (better yet, make your own!)
- Read lists of ingredients when you’re grocery shopping (note that sugar can be under many names: honey, molasses, liquid invert sugar, glucose and fructose, etc.)
- Avoid sticky sweets as they stick to teeth and are harder to brush away
- Carry a travel-size toothbrush and use it after eating sweets (if you can’t brush, at least rinse your mouth with mouthwash or water)
- Chew sugarless gum
There are also many ways to get that afternoon pick me up that won’t hurt your teeth OR your waistline!
- Plain milk and buttermilk
- Fruit and raw vegetables
- Plain yogurt, cheese and cottage cheese
- Hard boiled or deviled eggs
- Nuts, sunflower or pumpkin sees
These are just a few suggestions—but the possibilities for healthy snacks and meals are endless! So before you reach for that soda, candy bar or extra helping of dessert, take a moment to think about how skipping the sugar will help not only your teeth but your whole body become a healthier environment!
