The danger of hidden sugars in healthy drinks
Someone once said the cornerstone to good oral health lies in regular brushing of our teeth. True.
There’s no replacement for this essential process that not only keeps our teeth looking good, but also helps to remove both food particles and bacteria that could otherwise lead to problems, such as dental decay and gum disease.
It’s generally accepted that twice a day is typical, but the way it’s done and the timing can have a significant impact on its effectiveness. After eating food is always a good time to brush and always last thing at night.
It’s worth remembering too that an old toothbrush with worn bristles is an ineffective toothbrush.
With electric toothbrushes, heads should be replaced at least every three months as worn bristles are much less successful at removing bacteria from the teeth.
But why is it, that sometimes even after diligent brushing, problems emerge? It could be down to our DNA, but more likely it’s probably our diet, research suggests.
Leading health charity, the British Dental Health Foundation is currently calling for better awareness of the dangers of hidden sugars in our diets have on our oral health.
It follows the publication of the Eatwell Guide by Public Health England (PHE) that has highlighted the perils posed by hidden sugars in healthy drinks such as fruit juices and smoothies.
Recommendations in the guide have been altered to advise limiting the consumption of drinks such as fruit juices and smoothies to 150mls per day – that’s about two-thirds of a cup.
Hidden sugars are a dentists nightmare
Hidden sugars in healthy drinks are a dentist’s nightmare, and frankly, many of us are just not aware of the very high levels of sugar in these kinds of beverages.
Sugar causes teeth to decay as it reacts with the bacteria on the tooth, forming acid which attaches to the tooth surface. Tooth decay almost always leads to dentist intervention and the tooth needing to be restored.
When people come in to see us, they are often surprised we find problems – even when they follow recommendations to brush for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
The moral of the story is to make sure you always get a regular dental check as brushing and flossing alone cannot always guarantee total oral health.
And remember, try to keep an eye on those sugary drinks.
Should you wish to get your teeth checked out at our independent practice, we’d be happy to book you in with one of our dentists and our hygienist Sophie has plenty of preventative dentistry advice for our patients.
