We’ve talked about the perils of sugar on oral health. But what if it isn’t all bad? In this day and age, after all, sugary treats have become part of the norm. It’s hard not to come across them. But are sweets always bad for teeth?
Not necessarily. While candies and treats can increase one’s risk of tooth decay, they don’t have to. As long one has the right precautions set in place, they can have their sweet fix without having to worry as much about cavities.
Are sweets always bad for teeth? Not if you do the following:
Be Careful with the Type of Sweets You Consume
Fortunately, not all sweets harm your teeth the same way. Some treats can do a number on your little one’s teeth if you’re not careful. But there are others that you can safely enjoy on a reasonable basis. These treats typically share the following attributes:
- Washes off the teeth quickly. When sugars or sugary substances stay on your teeth for too long, it’s a free-for-all for your oral bacteria. They convert these sugars into acid, which over time can erode the tooth enamel. Sweets that wash off quickly, such as chocolate, are then a better alternative to other types of candies like gummies.
- Triggers saliva flow. We’ve previously delved into the importance of saliva in keeping one’s oral health. And fortunately, saliva-friendly treats aren’t a thing of myth. Chewing gum is one good example of this. Because chewing triggers saliva production, the more you chew on the gum, the more saliva you produce. The saliva, in turn, helps wash away any stray sugars you might have accumulated.
- Contains less sugar. If you eat less sugar, oral bacteria have less fuel to attack your pearly whites. Treats like dark chocolate and sugar-free gum, then, hit two birds with one stone. Aside from containing less sugar, their saliva-friendly properties wash away what little sugar they have, making them less susceptible to sticking within or around your teeth.
- Contains ingredients that help the teeth. Some gums contain xylitol, a sugar substitute that is said to prevent tooth decay. For one, xylitol blocks the oral bacteria’s ability to ingest glucose, starving them. In addition, xylitol can help with calcium absorption, strengthening the teeth. If you crave something sweet, then consider treats with xylitol or other tooth-friendly ingredients.
Sweets that tend to damage the teeth also share features, such as:
- Sticks to the teeth. As mentioned before, when sugars stick to teeth, it’s usually a field day for harmful oral bacteria. Similarly, eating sweet, sticky candies like toffee increase one’s likelihood of tooth decay.
- Can break the teeth. While our teeth are quite strong, there’s only so much they can handle before they yield to pressure. If your kid tends to eat sweets like jawbreakers or hard candies, then you might want to limit their consumption as it can hurt their teeth.
- Are acidic. Acid attacks are what usually cause enamel erosion and tooth decay. If one eats too much sour candy, this could up their chances of contracting these problems.
Maintaining Proper Oral Hygiene
Aside from your choice of candy, you’ll also need to make sure to keep strong to your oral hygiene practice. Even if one eats the right kind of candy without proper dental care, they could contract a slew of oral problems. So, brushing one’s teeth right after they eat their sweets is a particularly important step.
For parents, they might need to monitor how often their children binge on their sweets as eating candy regularly might be too much to handle for their hygiene habits. After all, prevention is always the best cure—particularly when it comes to children’s teeth.
Is Chocolate Good For Your Teeth?
Chocolate alone is good for our teeth. Dark chocolate specifically has many antioxidants that prevent the growth of certain bacteria that produce acid that deteriorates our teeth. Chocolate has a probiotic effect on streptococcus and helps it survive within your body. It causes a sore throat initially, but prolonged exposure to an abundance of Streptococcus can also affect our immune system to the point where one would develop a cough similar in bronchitis or even develop the inability to walk.
Strangely, chocolate, especially dark chocolate, may be able to fight plaque and cavities too. What? Yes, chocolate in its raw form contains a compound known as “CBP.” CBP could even be used in mouthwashes and toothpaste in the future. This substance can also help harden tooth enamel, providing healthier and stronger teeth ready to combat oral-related issues.
However, a big downside to eating chocolate lies in how it supports bacteria growth. Streptococcus, the bacteria commonly known to cause “strep throat,” can trigger tooth decay.
So, Should I Consume More Dark Chocolate?
In short, no. The chocolate in the grocery store is not pure chocolate. Instead, it’s been made to taste better and is manufactured into products such as candy and drinks loaded with refined sugar.
The sugar is what makes this bad for the body if consumed too often. Even without considering sugar, any food eaten in excess is unhealthy and can cause weight gain if consumption is not watched. Everything should be consumed in moderation.
However, small doses every now and then are encouraged, whether this is raw or sugar-containing chocolate. Chocolate should, though, be avoided if you recently had your teeth professionally whitened by a dentist. Other than that, small bites of dark chocolate daily may be healthy. A few bites of a chocolate bar, a cup of hot chocolate, or a chocolate chip cookie may be good options in moderation.
What about Sweets with Extra Sugar?
Added sugar is bad, and if you eat a bar of Milky Way with 58 grams, you just gave your body 8.75 teaspoons of sugar which are just 0.5 teaspoons short to the maximum amount of added sugars recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) for men and three teaspoons over the recommendation for women.
A can of Pepsi has the same amount of sugar as that of a Milky Way bar, while 100 grams of Froot Loops have 10.5 teaspoons. A medium-sliced sponge cake has 5.5 teaspoons of sugar.
Consuming too much sugar has been linked to weight gain, obesity, type II diabetes, and heart diseases.
Additionally, sugar can also be your teeth’s worst enemy as bacteria in your mouth love to eat sugar that is lingering in your mouth, resulting in cavities and other oral-related problems.
And if you think that unrefined sugar is a better option than refined sugar, you are wrong.
Unprocessed sugars like molasses, coconut sugar, honey, agave, raw sugar cane, and brown sugar are not necessarily better and are not also 100 percent safe for your teeth.
In fact, honey may be worse for your teeth than refined sugar because of its gooey texture despite it being a healthier alternative for its nutrients and antioxidants. Honey contains 80 percent sugar which provides an opportunity for the buildup of plaque, potentionally reulting in cavities.
If sugar consumption is hard to remove from your diet, take the following measures to prevent damaging your teeth:
- Limit your sugar intake. Since removing sugar from your life will be difficult, cut back the amount instead. Gradually decrease your sugar consumption. Start by eating three instead of four sweets a week. Then try eating two instead of three in the week that follows, and so on.
- Say “no” to or reduce sugary beverages like soda and coffee.
- Find alternatives. Instead of eating a Snickers bar during snack time, try fruit leather without added sugar. You can also substitute soda with fruit smoothies with no added sugar. Find healthier options that are good for your teeth and your overall health.
- If you are not hungry, do not munch on cookies and other snacks. These empty calories make for unnecessary sugar intake. If you are bored, do not reach for a chocolate bar. Keep yourself busy instead. If you feel like eating in between meals, try drinking a glass of water. And if your hunger persists, snack on healthier options like carrots or sliced apples instead of food with added sugar.
- After eating foods with sugar, drink water and brush your teeth thoroughly.
- Floss and rinse with mouthwash to ensure that sugary substance is not left in your mouth.
- Visit your dentist twice a year for check-ups. This way, you and your dentist can know the condition of your mouth and possible measures to take.
We love sweets, and we crave for them. But health must always be prioritized over sweetness.
And if choosing between letting sweets go and having healthy teeth is too much of choice, make sure to take extra measures to keep your teeth in their best condition through proper oral hygiene.
Top 3 Sugarless Health Foods
Dairy products: Plain yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products are rich in Vitamin D, phosphate and calcium. Each of the latter are vital minerals necessary for obtaining healthy teeth. In fact, the teeth contain mostly calcium. Therefore, a calcium deficiency can increase the risks of gum disease and tooth decay.
As an additional perk, calcium actually mixes with plaque so that when they stick to the teeth, they are shielded from releasing decaying-triggering acids. As an added bonus, calcium also aids in quickly rebuilding tooth enamel.
In case you are lactose intolerant, you can still receive the calcium you need. Calcium can be found in soy milk, calcium-rich juices and other foods and drinks.
Green and black teas: Green and black tea can suppress or terminate bacteria or impede them from developing from the start. In turn, this can reduce the amount of decay-causing acid from being released in your oral cavity. This does not only hinder cavity growth but also minimizes inflammation and the possibility of gum problems.
Depending on the type of water used to brew your tea, a cup of tea may also be a great source of fluoride. For good oral health, it is not advisable to add sugar to your tea. However, if you like your tea with milk, the added calcium can do wonders for your pearly whites.
Vegetables and fruits that are rich in fiber: Fiber-rich foods can stimulate the flow of saliva. This is regarded as a natural protection against cavities.
This does not only clear away bits of foods and clean the mouth, but this also neutralizes the acids that attack the teeth. As a matter of fact, approximately twenty minutes after consuming some foods, saliva can naturally balance the acids that are known to bring damage to the teeth. Fresh, crisp veggies and fruits such as celery, carrots and apple stimulate the flow of saliva and help clean the plaque from the teeth. In turn, this leads to fresher, better-smelling breath.
Apart from the latter benefits, certain fruits and vegetables are rich in calcium. These include kale, broccoli, spinach, oranges, collard greens, raspberries, cabbage, okra, blackberries.
It is crucial to be careful about the foods we consume every day. If you prefer to be healthy inside and out, it’s important to be cautious of the foods you pick to buy, prepare and cook as this will remarkably affect your life in a variety of ways.
What Does Your Favorite Candy Say About You?
#Chocolate
If you chose chocolate as your favorite candy, your personality is sweet and romantic. You love to be the one to cheer other people up when they’re down and put everyone else before your own problems. You’re also a great listener, and you’re always that friend that offers a shoulder to cry on. You make everyone’s life sweet.
Luckily, dark chocolate offers benefits for the teeth. Dark chocolate offers many vitamins and minerals helpful for the mouth and rest of the body, and chocolate may also contain anti-bacterial properties to fight against plaque and cavities.
However, limit your chocolate intake. Plus, due to high carbs and sugar, chocolate should not be eaten in excess. If possible, opt for chocolate that contains less sugar.
#Gummies
Gummy candy lovers are fun and outgoing. You stand out in the crowd, and you’re not afraid to be different. So what if somebody judges you?
You’re generally a very happy person and aren’t afraid of change. You adapt well to life’s ups, downs, and twists. You bring joy and positivity to everyone around you. P.S….gummies are yummy, but due to their gooey texture, they can easily stick in and around the teeth, quickly causing tooth sensitivity and cavities. After consumption, one should thoroughly brush and floss their teeth to ensure no pieces are left behind.
#JawBreakers
Love Jaw Breakers or other hard candies the most? You’re brave and self-sufficient. You like doing things for yourself and helping others when they need someone to depend on. You’re also the first person to be there to offer a helping hand and the last person to give up. You’re also known at times to crave a little competition.
Jaw Breakers and other hard candies are prone to chipping or cracking the teeth when bitten into. For this reason, it’s important that young children or those with fragile teeth do not consume these unless they are careful. Sucking on the Jaw Breaker or other candy before biting into it is advised.
#Bubblegum
Those who love bubble gum as their favorite candy are sociable and independent. You may be more mature than many of your friends, but you also make for a great leader and offer great advice to others. You typically shrug things off if they don’t go your way, and you’re confident in yourself that you’ll make things work eventually.
Sugarless chewing gum is good for the teeth as it rids of oral bacteria and leftover food particles in the mouth, it freshens up bad breath, and it increases saliva flow to prevent dry mouth. However, it’s best advised to chew gum that doesn’t contain sugars for it to be helpful for the teeth.
#Caramels
Last but not least, caramel lovers are simple and kind. You’re not quick to judge others. While you tend to be a little on the quieter side at times, your simplistic and easy-going personality is attractive to many. There’s something about you that’s mysterious; yet, you’re an open person once you get to know others on a personal level.
Try one of these 6 Smoothies Instead of Soda
All these receipts contain fruits or veggies with low acidity, which is essential to ensure strong enamel. Also, opt for sugarless options whether you make your own or purchase an already-made smoothie. Otherwise, this will counteract the health benefits of the fruit within the smoothie and increase cavity risk.
Smoothie #1: Great for strengthening and remineralizing the teeth (especially with ghee and cod liver oil) and for fighting oral infections (particularly tea and coconut oil)
- 1/2 cup of green tea and plain Greek yogurt
- 1 banana
- 1 tablespoon of fermented cod liver oil, ghee, and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
Smoothie #2: Great for healthy gums
- 1 cup of banana, kiwi, and 1 cup of strawberries
- 1/2 cup of oranges and 1/2 cup of frozen berries of your choice
- 8 ounces of plain Greek yogurt (also helps combat bad breath and makes the teeth stronger)
Smoothie #3: Great for a beautiful, bright smile
- 3 apples (kill bacteria to make your smile whiter and brighter)
- 2 kiwis
- 1 avocado (contains calcium for strong teeth) and 1 orange
- A few mint leaves for extra flavor (and fresh breath!)
Smoothie #4: Great for strong teeth
- 2 kiwis
- 1 cup of strawberries
- 1 and 1/2 cups of milk (contains calcium to make the teeth and bones strong)
- 2 tablespoons of mint (great for fresh breath!)
- 1 cup of crushed ice cubes
Smoothie #5: Great for fighting oral bacteria and strengthening the teeth
- 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt (plenty of healthy bacteria known as probiotics to attack bad oral bacteria) and 1 cup of fruit of your choice (Strawberries, bananas, and blueberries are great options.)
- 1/4 cup of milk (calcium for strong teeth)
Smoothie #6: Another recipe for strengthening the teeth
- 1/2 cup of coconut milk (delicious, hydrating, and strengthening for the teeth) and 1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup of spinach
- 1 banana and 1 green apple
- Shaved, unsweetened coconut as a garnish (optional)
Give your teeth the extra boost they need with enriching vitamins and minerals capable of providing oral bacteria-fighting capabilities. A smoothie a day keeps the dentist away (as long as you’re still participating in the proper oral health routine as well)!