Our recommended daily allowance within that 90-120g needs to include the naturally occurring sugars found in milk and fruit too.
As well as having an impact on your body, mind, physical fitness and energy, sugar also has a drastic effect on our teeth. So it bares the question; am I eating too much sugar?
Think of a cavity as a bacterial infection caused by the way sugar and the natural mouth acids react with the tooth enamel. The acids in the sugar latch onto the bacteria which causes it to eat away at the enamel. This results in tiny holes in the teeth. These tiny holes can lead to tooth sensitivities and finally, cavities.
If you eat an excess amount of sugar your teeth aren’t getting a break. Our teeth are constantly attacked by acids on a daily basis without the need for excess damage from sugary foods.
There is no real answer as to whether we eat too many sugary foods unless we actively measure it. If we are exceeding our daily amount of sugar then we need to start looking at our diet.
If we are eating a high amount of sugar then we need to ensure we are maintaining a sound routine when it comes to cleaning our teeth.
Every single day it is important to undertake certain duties. We must brush our teeth at least twice a day and floss all of our teeth at least twice a week. If you want to add to your oral routine then use mouthwash as an accompaniment.
If you feel like your teeth are becoming sensitive or you’ve noticed a colour change then it’s important to visit your dentist to address your concerns. Dentists are there to help and advise you: they will help you understand how your eating habits affect your mouth and which best ways to care for your teeth.
If you have noticed that you’re consuming more sugar don’t worry, you’re still in control. The best way to make sure that your mouth doesn’t suffer is to make small changes. Find out how to make small changes and protect your mouth from excess sugar in our next post.