[Series] Dental Resolutions For The New Year – Resolution #3
Like many Australians, it is quite likely that your level of sugar consumption reached its peak during the festive season. The post-festive period is often a time where people resolve to eat less sugary foods.
Sugar not only affects our waistlines, it also affects our teeth. Sugar feeds the bacteria already present on our teeth. The bacteria convert the sugar into acid, which can cause damage to our enamel. Once enamel is gone we cannot get it back!
How can a person reduce the amount of sugar that they consume?
We have spoken before about how much sugar is present in foods. It is important to become an informed consumer. Read labels on foods and be aware of what you are putting into your body. Remember that many low fat foods have a higher amount of sugar present in them.
It is difficult to give up sugar completely: often it is better just to manage the amount or frequency of consumption. A good way to limit your sugar intake is to confine your sugary treats to one particular time of day rather than consuming sugary foods all day long. This can reduce the overall quantity of sugar consumed as well as the length of time that the teeth have been exposed to sugar.
After eating something sugary, rinse your mouth out with water or a fluoride mouthwash. This will remove much of the residual sugar from around your teeth and lessen the chance of damage to your enamel.
More Dental Resolutions For The New Year
What other dental resolutions do we recommend for the New Year? Check out the other articles in this series:
- Brush Your Teeth Twice Daily
- Floss Your Teeth Every Day
- Consume Less Sugar (this article)
- Prevent Stains On Your Teeth
- Keep Your Teeth Safe
- Visit Your Dentist Regularly
