Improve Dental? Kick That Sugar Habit!
Oh, sugar. It’s wonderful, isn’t it? Whether your sweet tooth tends to love chocolate or leans more toward licorice or soda, the craving for something sweet can be extremely powerful. In fact, it’s often hard to ignore because not only do sweet treats taste good, some (like chocolate) can cause our brains to release endorphins, those “feel-good” chemicals that make us happy. And we all like to feel happy, right?
Unfortunately, sugary snacks can lead to a whole slew of health problems. Too much sugar aids in obesity and contributes, in part, to diabetes. But, of course, what we’re here to discuss is sugar’s effect on our dental health.
This will come as no shock — sugar is bad for your teeth. Period. Sugar can cause cavities to develop and, if left untreated, will lead to more serious dental health issues. So how do you kick that sugar habit? Here are some quick tips that might help you out:
Quit Cold Turkey
This technique works for many people, but we’re not going to mince words– it could be tough. What this means is that you’ll be making a clean break of your sugar habit and never looking back. If you can resist the urge to ingest sugar, this can help your brain reset, allowing you to lose your addiction. So if you have the willpower, go for it!
Throw Out the Sugar
It’s time to tear through your kitchen and get rid of everything (or at least most things) that contain sugar. Yes, it may be painful to remove all these sweet treats, but trust us — your teeth and overall health will thank you. However, keep two important things in mind. First, when we say to get rid of everything with sugar, we don’t mean to have a sweet tooth free-for-all and devour pounds of candy. And second, if you feel like throwing away so much food is wasteful, perhaps you should consider giving it away to someone who will eat it in moderation. Or, heck, save it for Halloween, which is pretty much right around the corner.
Check the Labels
While the high sugar content of candy bars and soda is quite clear, what you need to be on the lookout for are foods that contain sugar, but are kinda sneaky about it. Even those sports drinks that are touted as being “healthy” often contain high amounts of sugar that can be detrimental to your health. The first thing you should do is check the nutritional information on the back of a package. Next, look for anything that ends with “-ose” on the list of ingredients, as in fructose, dextrose, glucose, and sucrose. Other words to run away from are maltrodextrain, corn syrup, and malt.
Manage Your Cravings
A sudden sugar craving is often hard to ignore, especially if sugar has become a regular item for you to ingest during the day. You can manage these cravings by distracting your brain. Start off by drinking a glass of water. The sustenance could satisfy your mind and body in a similar way that sugar does as you attempt to kick the habit. If that doesn’t work, go for a walk or engage in some other activity. Being active will often cause your food craving to pass. And if not, grab a piece of fruit or other type of food with natural sugar.
Even if you kick your sugar habit entirely, that doesn’t mean that visits to the dentist aren’t important. For proper dental and oral health, it is vital for you to have regular check-ups to take care of any problem that might have developed without your knowledge and to prevent future problems from occurring. Dr. Bruce McArthur prides himself on providing the very best dental treatment money can buy, and can help you devise a plan to ensure your dental health. Contact his office today and we’ll get you started!