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- Sugar is absolutely everywhere. Just because you may not see it in it’s raw form, or taste it as sweet right away in the foods you eat, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t there and that it isn’t having an effect on your body. The amount of processed foods and beverages that exist in the world and their level of consumption is very high. Healthy initiatives are slowly proving to be fruitful (pun intended), but the transition of weening people off of what they have become used to for such a long time and supplement something which is healthier (but may also be more financially expensive) isn’t an easy task. However, facts never lie.
“New research from The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) shows that sugary drinks are associated with erosive tooth wear among teenagers in Mexico, where sugary beverages are a dietary staple. The study authors issued a food questionnaire to teens between the ages 14 to 19 living in Mexico regarding the intake of fruit juice, sports drinks and sweet carbonated drinks, among other food items. The teenagers were then examined for erosive tooth wear. Results of the study showed that the overall prevalence of erosive tooth wear was 31.7 percent, with sweet carbonated drinks – soda – causing the most erosion. ‘While this is an ex-U.S. study, the findings are meaningful to everyone who cares about the health and wellness of children,” said Yasmi O. Crystal, D.M.D., F.A.A.P.D., professor of pediatric dentistry at New York University College of Dentistry. “These findings support calls from the World Health Organization, Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reduce the intake of added sugars. Limiting the intake of sweetened carbonated beverages can help patients and our health care system as a whole.’”
Reading the facts and actually taking action based on the data are two completely different things. Cutting out all sugar from your diet all at once can be a difficult thing to do, so difficult in fact that many people would try it and then feel lured right back into their bad habits. The best thing to do would be to reduce the sugar intake within your overall diet to start; if you drink 3 soft drinks/sports drinks a day, cut back to one. Also, after the consumption of any sugary food or beverage, take the time to thoroughly clean your teeth. If you’re in a position where you aren’t able to, try to at least rinse out your mouth with some water.
Contacting your Ottawa dentist is another great way to get assistance for getting off of sugary foods/beverages and improving your dental health.
- Sugar is absolutely everywhere. Just because you may not see it in it’s raw form, or taste it as sweet right away in the foods you eat, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t there and that it isn’t having an effect on your body. The amount of processed foods and beverages that exist in the world and their level of consumption is very high. Healthy initiatives are slowly proving to be fruitful (pun intended), but the transition of weening people off of what they have become used to for such a long time and supplement something which is healthier (but may also be more financially expensive) isn’t an easy task. However, facts never lie.
