In our local dental office, we speak with patients all of the time about the importance of avoiding sugar. Eating sugary foods or drinks is not good for you in any quantity. The more sugar that you intake, the higher your risk becomes of getting cavities. When sugar sits on your teeth, it can create an acid that starts to attack them. This can weaken your teeth and lead to cavities. The problem only worsens this time of the year with the arrival of Halloween and the official holiday season. With so many treats to choose from it can be difficult to avoid sugar.
The key is to remember that everything you eat and drink plays a direct role in your overall health and how you feel. If you eat a lot of sugar, you may start to crash and feel sluggish in addition to putting your teeth at risk. If, however, you eat a healthy and balanced diet, you will have sustained energy, and your teeth will be healthier.
In our dental office, we have come up with several tips you can try for avoiding sugar and to start being healthier overall. Here is what you can try at home:
- Drink lots of water. If you stay hydrated, you will feel fuller and be less tempted to overeat or reach for a candy bar. This is a good weight loss tip but also good for your teeth. Your body needs to produce saliva in order for your teeth and gums to stay healthy. If you drink plenty of water, it will. Otherwise, you can get dry mouth and your risk of cavities and bad breath will increase.
- Eat a balanced meal. When you eat a meal that contains complex carbs, lean protein and veggies, you will have sustained energy throughout the day. By feeling energized, you can accomplish more and won’t feel like you are having an afternoon crash. This will prevent the urge to reach for quick energy in the form of a candy bar. Eating meals with healthy ingredients is also good for remineralizing and strengthening your teeth so eat them every day.
- Reward yourself. If you are tempted to pig out on Halloween candy or eat an entire pie on Thanksgiving, be honest with yourself. It is okay if sweets are your temptation, but make sure that you can avoid overindulging by offering yourself a reward. For example, if you skip trick-or-treating and avoid sweets for a month, buy yourself a new purse or game you have been wanting. Incentivize yourself to make healthy choices.
- Avoid the situation. Just because you were invited to a holiday party, doesn’t mean that you have to go. Spend time one on one with the host instead. This way you can see your friend but don’t have to be surrounded by sugary treats in order to do so.
As a general dentist, we recommend that you take these simple steps to avoid sugar on Halloween and throughout the year. Keeping sugar off of your teeth is one more way to fight cavities and gum disease.
