Health Effects of Sweets
While we all like a tasty treat now and then, eating too many sweets can be bad for our teeth. Besides that, they might make health problems like fat, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease worse.
Even though most people know that sweets are bad for your teeth, not many really understand how. Eating sweets makes your mouth more acidic, which is good for bacteria because they love sugar and make acids that wear away at our enamel.
As acids work, they wear away the outside of our teeth and bring in bacteria that cause gum disease and gingivitis. If someone eats too much sugar, it could cause periodontitis if it is not treated right away.
It’s important to take care of your teeth by eating right, brushing and flossing regularly, and going to the dentist regularly. You can keep your smile healthy and happy by following these easy steps.
1. Limit Snacking to once a day.
If you snack all day, especially if there is sugar in the snacks, your mouth’s pH level can drop a lot. Therefore, try not to snack between meals so that your saliva can rebalance itself after each one.
2. When tasting sweet treats, be sure to chew on crunchy foods rather than sticky ones for optimal enjoyment.
Eating hard and sticky sweets can make them difficult to chew and swallow, causing your teeth to absorb more sugar than they should. It also increases your risk for developing tooth decay and plaque since these food types require longer for saliva to wash away.
3. Opt for sweets that contain xylitol, a naturally occurring non-nutritive sugar substitute that doesn’t activate harmful bacteria in your mouth.
The xylitol in these candies helps shield teeth’s enamel from acids while strengthening their structure.
4. Enjoy chocolate along with a meal
It is ideal to consume sweet treats after your main course, as this gives the saliva that helps wash sugar away from your teeth enough time to neutralize any acid before it causes damage.
5. Drink plenty of water after indulging in sweets.
Not only does water wash away any remaining sugar from your mouth, but it also dilutes the acids produced by bacteria present therein.
Drinking water not only reduces the damage done to your teeth by acid, but it also helps remineralize them by providing essential minerals that strengthen and repair enamel.
6. Maintain a healthy diet and brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste after eating sweets to keep them clean, free from plaque, tooth decay, and cavities.
For optimal dental health and to avoid dental problems, it is essential to eat a balanced diet with plenty of whole fruits, vegetables and lean meats. Furthermore, avoid processed sugars and other unhealthy sweeteners. Finally, it’s essential to brush your teeth after each meal and especially before going to bed.