From a young age, dentists tell us that sugar can hurt our teeth. This is because sugar becomes acidic when it reacts with saliva, and the acid can erode tooth enamel, the outer layer of the tooth. This dental damage can be permanent and put your smile at risk of many dental problems like cavities.
But cutting out sugar is hard to do on your own. Your dentist can help you when it comes to preventative dental care, including changes in your diet. Read on to find advice from your dentist in Milton, FL about consuming less sugar and therefore protecting your dental health.
How to Cut Your Sugar Intake
Spot and Eliminate High-Sugar Offenders
A good place to start when considering adjusting your diet is to keep a log of the foods and drinks that you consume, especially noting the amount of sugar in each of them. Then you can spot items with high levels of sugar and know to avoid them. Common offenders include soda, candy, and packaged baked goods.
You can also notice how much added sugar you use. Though you may want to introduce spoonfuls of table sugar to your cup of coffee or tea, this excess sugar can put your dental health at risk. Skipping this extra ingredient can significantly lower your risk of forming cavities and other dental dangers.
Adjust Your Recipes
When you cook a meal, you have a great amount of control over the ingredients that go into your food. This provides an ideal opportunity to reduce the amount of sugar that you consume, especially when baking. You can cut half or even three-fourths of the recommended sugar in a recipe without affecting the taste of your dish.
This could be a good time to experiment with flavors as well. You can swap out sugar with vanilla or almond extract. You may even want to try spices in your dish rather than sugar, such as cinnamon or nutmeg.
Changes like these can prevent major dental damage. Though a dentist can treat a cavity with ease using dental fillings, you should preserve as much of the natural structure of your smile as possible.
Prepare for Sweetness Cravings
As you start to consume less sugar, you might find yourself craving sweetness as a result. When you know this temptation will occur, you can prepare for it by keeping alternative, sugar-free snacks on hand. You can reach for nuts or dried fruits instead to satisfy any cravings without hurting your smile.
The next time you go grocery shopping, pay attention to the sugar content of the foods and drinks that you purchase. Making preparations for these future cravings does not admit a failure of your willpower. In fact, it shows commitment to sticking to your healthy diet and protecting your teeth.
Continue good oral hygiene and visit your dentist on a regular basis to maximize your preventative dental care. Find more tips for keeping your smile strong and healthy by consulting your dental professional.