Sugar notoriously poses a threat to your teeth, but many people do not know the reason why. When sugar reacts with your saliva, it becomes acidic. The acid could then erode the protective outer shell of your teeth, enamel, leaving your teeth vulnerable to many dental dangers.
Even if you understand this risk, it can be difficult to lower the amount of sugar you eat without help. Your dentist can provide useful advice to adjust your diet and keep your smile safe. Read on to find three tips from your Annapolis, MD dentist that will help you cut sugar from your diet and protect your dental health.
Before you alter your diet, it is a good idea to know how much sugar you consume on a regular basis currently. One way to keep track of this is to keep a log of the foods you eat, including their sugar content.
This strategy can pinpoint certain behaviors and meals that are easy to change. For instance, many people use table sugar to sweeten their foods and drinks, as with coffee.
If you stop adding spoonfuls of sugar to your coffee mug, you can majorly reduce your risk of forming cavities and other dental problems. You can also spot highly sugary foods like sodas that you can eliminate from your diet and significantly cut back on your sugar consumption.
When you prepare and cook your own meals, you have great control over what goes into your food. You can alter your recipes and make them healthier for your smile by putting less sugar into your meals. You can remove half or even three-fourths of the recommended amount of sugar without impacting the taste in many cases.
These can provide good opportunities to experiment with flavors. You can swap out sugar and try vanilla or almond extract instead. It may be interesting to use spices as well, like cinnamon or nutmeg. These adjustments can save you time and money by making you less likely to require dental work like fillings.
If you start consuming less sugar, you might find yourself craving sweetness in its absence. It may feel tempting to cave into these cravings, but you could put your smile at risk this way. Therefore, you should keep sugar-free snacks on hand to help you curb these desires.
Next time you go grocery shopping, pay attention to the amount of sugar in the foods you buy. Dried fruit and nuts make great choices for snacks to keep on hand that you can eat when you crave a sugary treat.
Precautionary measures like this display a commitment to keeping your teeth healthy rather than acknowledging a weakness in your resolve. If you want to know more about preventative dental care, call your dentist for tips.
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