Can summer treats damage your teeth?
Everyone looks forward to the summer months. BBQs, Holidays, Weddings, Picnics – many of these involving good and tasty food. Can summer treats damage your teeth?
Flavoured waters can contain sugars and citric acids
Flavoured waters
In the hot weather, one thing many of us are aware of is staying hydrated. We are told to try to drink up to 2 litres of liquid in the hot weather to keep hydrated. Flavoured waters are becoming more popular mainly for their sweet and tangy tastes but did you know they contain sugars and citric acids?
Both sugar and acid work together to damage the outer layer of the tooth –the enamel. This layer protects the more delicate layers of the tooth under the teeth which contain the nerves to the tooth. If that becomes damaged, you can experience sensitivity and pain, and this would need to be fixed by your Dentist.
If you like flavoured water, why not swap from drinking it throughout the day to just having it at mealtimes? By having the sugar and acid hits only a few times a day, it allows the rest of the time for your mouth to be neutralising the sugar and acid to help protect the teeth.
Ice creams often contain large amounts of sugar
Ice Creams and Ice Lollies – Cold treats
Ice creams and ice lollies are cooling treats on those hazy, hot days but they can contain a lot of sugar so always check your labels if you are consuming them quite frequently.
Also if you can’t eat cold things or you find the experience pain due to sensitivity, maybe it is a worth a trip to the Dentist to see if there is anything they can do to help.
A large number of popular fruits contain acid
Acidic Treats
In the summer months fruit becomes more a-peeling (see what we did there?) and the quality of the more exotic fruits becomes better. Oranges, strawberries, grapefruits, pineapple – to name a few, all contain acid.
There is nothing wrong with eating fruit; it’s healthy and good for you! But grazing throughout the day on citrus and acidic fruits again can damage your enamel and lead to wearing away enamel. Why not stick to eating your favourite fruits alongside your meals?
Fizzy drinks often contain a very high sugar content
Fizzy Drinks
We see a significant increase in the number of fizzy drinks consumed in the warm weather. These will often have a very high sugar content and when drunk straight from the bottle that liquid comes in direct contact with your teeth. Most fizzy drinks will also contain acid which will eat away at the tooth enamel.
Nothing beats good old plain water to keep you cool and hydrated all summer long.
And finally, remember that cider generally contains more sugar than wine.
Before you reach for your cold, fruity cider on a warm summer’s day in the pub garden, remember a single glass can contain up to five teaspoons of sugar.
Many experts recommend an adult’s total daily sugar consumption should be just six teaspoons, only one teaspoon more than the average amount of sugar in fruit cider.
We here at North Street Dental believe that everyone deserves a treat (we love ice cream!) however, it is essential to be aware of what we are eating and its potential effects on not just our teeth, but our bodies as well.
For more information or to discuss with a member of the team call us on 01384 254 067 or use our contact form.
