At the time of this writing, Valentine’s day is fast approaching, with Easter following shortly thereafter for many of us. These are holidays that are typically celebrated with lots of candy and sweets (especially chocolate) and that means one thing: lots of sugar on your teeth. Sugar is extremely tough on your teeth and gums, particularly in large amounts. Sugar can not only give oral bacteria something to feed on, but it effectively turbocharges them by providing an ideal food source. As bacteria feed on sugars, they create acids which leech minerals from tooth enamel, which can lead to infections, disease, and eventually cavities.
So, all that being said, what’s the answer to healthier teeth? Well, the obvious answer is to cut sweet foods from your diet, but that can be unrealistic, not to mention an incredibly joyless and miserable experience. Ideally, you’ll want to enjoy sugary foods in moderation, replace sweet snacks with healthier choices, and do what you can to combat the effects of the sweets you and your family eat.
Try Sugarless Gum
First and foremost, if you’re just looking for a quick sugar fix, sugarless gum can be a godsend. Sugarless gum is sweetened with artificial sweeteners like aspartame and xylitol which don’t create the bacterial buffet that real sugars do.
Sugarless gum has the added benefit of cleaning your teeth, and in some cases you can even find gum that goes to work repairing enamel and brightening your smile.
Beyond that, sugarless gum is great for those trying to monitor and limit their calorie intake, or those trying to combat an anxious or nervous oral fixation ( pen-chewers rejoice). All of this combines to make sugarless gum an excellent way to satisfy your sweet tooth without damaging your actual teeth.
Fresh Fruit and Raw Vegetables
Fresh fruit is another great alternative to sugary snacks. Apples, grapes, oranges, bananas, peaches, and pears all make excellent alternatives to sugary candy bars and other sugar-heavy snacks. The amount of fructose in a piece of fruit, especially non-citrus fruit, is much lower than the amount in candy and other sweets, and fruit comes packed with nutrients your body needs to stay healthy and strong. And while an apple a day might not keep the doctor away, it will certainly keep your dentist happy if it’s replacing other, more harmful snacks. Just be careful of how much you’re eating, as even the sugars in fruit, though there is much less of it than what you’ll find in candy, can damage your teeth. This is especially true with acidic fruits like pineapple and oranges, so make sure you’re brushing well, and using a toothpaste that helps build and strengthen enamel.
Another thing you can try is fresh vegetables, particularly carrots. Carrots are dense and firm enough that munching a raw carrot, perhaps dipped in a tasty ranch dipping sauce, or some homemade hummus, can actually scrape away plaque and remove food particles and even some bacteria from your teeth. Celery, one of the best healthy snacks, also goes great with ranch, or sugar-free peanut butter.
For something a little more filling and protein rich, try mixing fruit with some Greek yogurt to get the sweet dessert taste you crave, without all the calories and sugar you don’t need. Your teeth and your waistline will thank you. Yogurt is an excellent way to add some variety to your snacking as sugarless varieties abound at the grocery store, or you can whip some up at home for a tasty, homemade snack.
Make Sweets with Sugar Substitutes
Another thing you can do is make sweets and other normally sugary foods with a healthier twist: sugar substitutes. This can include:
● Sugar Free Ice-cream
● Almond Cookies with Xylitol
● Sugar-Free Brownies
● Low-Sugar Cakes
● And many more deliciously healthy snacks
Combating Sugar Damage with Dr. David Kao
Dr. Kao is a dental specialist in Periodontics and Dental Implants. He is committed to helping each and every one of his patients achieve a brighter smile, and a healthier mouth. If you have questions about your oral care, or would like to set up an appointment, contact us today to set up an appointment.
