A healthy diet can play a big role in keeping your whole body healthy, including keeping your mouth clean and in good shape. In fact, eating nutritious foods can help prevent cavities, tooth decay, gum disease, and other harm that can be done by improper dental care. See from this registered dental hygienist how sugar can be sneaky for your smile.
Learn that it’s not sugar itself that causes cavities, but actually a bacteria that feeds on sugar and produces acids that erode enamel and causes cavities to develop. Things like toast, granola bars, soda, and ice cream have a lot more sugar than one might expect. Both toast and granola bars have about six grams of sugar in them. Two servings of soda is equal to about eighty grams of sugar. Find alternatives like sugar free sparkling water that has the carbonation but not the sugar. A bowl of ice cream can have between forty and eighty-seven grams of sugar. Be more mindful of what you’re eating and replace these treats you have throughout the day with healthier options like meats, nuts, and cheese. View the demonstration she does comparing an egg soaked in water and an egg soaked in soda, the egg soaked in water appearing as normal while the egg soaked in soda is stained and softened. This showcases just how badly sugar can impact our teeth.
While it’s okay to indulge in a sweet treat, be aware of what you’re eating for the sake of your teeth!
Discussion Questions
How do cavities develop in your mouth?
About how much sugar does a piece of toast have? How much in a granola bar? And how much in a can of soda?
What foods can you eat that are better for your teeth and have less sugar?
What is one thing you learned from the Dental Hygienist in this video?