Why snacks could be playing havoc with your teeth

Experts recommend that anyone over the age of 11 should limit their sugar intake to 30 grams a day – about 7 sugar cubes. However, the average person gets through almost 60 grams of added sugar a day, with teenagers consuming even more.

While eating this level could have serious health repercussions, it will also play havoc with your teeth as sugar is the main cause of decay and cavities; fuelling harmful bacteria that attacks enamel.

Why is sugar such a problem?

The way we eat sweet snacks as a nation has certainly changed. Prices are lower than ever before, with sweet treats often being cheaper than healthier choices. There’s also a wide array of choice, with these options often taking prime place in shops to grab your attention. And finally, portion sizes are also increasing, which can lead to overeating without intending to.

All of these factors combine to make it much more difficult to make healthier choices. It makes a cheap, easy, convenient snack and is quite often the only choice when out and about.

The problem is eating sugary snacks has now become routine – cakes in the office, ice cream at the park, biscuits with tea, muffins for breakfast, and monster bags of chocolate in front of the TV at night – never mind this all being washed down with fizzy drinks.

And we can’t get enough of it. The ‘high’ eating sugar brings is quickly replaced by a crash, leaving us craving more sugar. This onslaught of sugary snacks is bad news for our teeth as it continues to damage enamel.

Why is snacking so bad for teeth?

It’s not just the sugar content of food that makes it so bad for our health. Starchy choices can also spell disaster for your oral health. Starch will get stuck to your teeth and convert into sugar, which then attacks the enamel.

The timing is also terrible. When you eat a meal, your body produces saliva to help neutralise the acids in the food and wash away residue. But your body cannot produce saliva all day. So when you are reaching for sweet treats between meals, you are leaving your teeth even more vulnerable as your body is not producing saliva to help counteract the negative consequences.

Those with a habit of “grazing” throughout the day might not be overeating in terms of calories, but they can be doing damage to their teeth simply by snacking rather than limiting their intake to meal times.

How do these habits impact oral health?

The biggest issue you might face from snacking throughout the day and from eating foods very high in sugar is enamel erosion. Enamel is a protective layer on your teeth that protects against decay and also prevents sensitivity.

This layer can be eroded by exposure to acids in food, leaving your teeth vulnerable to decay. Brushing twice a day helps to protect your teeth from acid erosion, but there are limitations to how much this can help you, particularly if you choose to graze on snacks throughout the day. This habit will increase your exposure to potentially damaging acids in the mouth.

What are the alternatives?

Snacking is the main culprit as teeth cannot cope with the constant attacks. So, while a bit of sugar is ok at mealtimes, try to cut sugary snacks out of your diet where possible. We’re not going to say you have to stop enjoying sweet treats entirely, but there are some simple changes you can make that will limit the damage. It could be swapping one snack for another, or it could be changing the timing of your snacks.

The first piece of advice we could give would be to cut out fizzy drinks and replace these with coffee, tea, water or milk. Fizzy drinks are without a doubt the worst thing for your oral health and for your wider health. Even diet versions of your favourite drinks will lead to enamel erosion and can also cause dental discolouration.

The next change you should consider is to upgrade the quality of your snacks. You don’t have to say goodbye to snacks forever, but through the simple act of making better choices, you can protect your oral health. Consider cutting out sweet treats like chocolate, sweets, biscuits and cakes in favour of these alternatives:

• Low sugar alternatives like dark chocolate

• Nuts

• Cheese

• Boiled eggs

• Hummus and carrot sticks

• Meat snacks like beef jerky

• Crab sticks

• Fruit

It may be hard at first to cut back on sugar, but once a new snacking routine has been established things will fall into place. If you’re in need of some motivation, just think about protecting your teeth.

One final piece of advice we would give would be to change the time that you enjoy your snacks. If you have a strong sweet tooth and don’t want to give up chocolate entirely, you should consider only eating a small amount after a main meal. Switching to dark chocolate is a great way to cut down your chocolate intake as the flavour is more intense, so you will eat less of it.

Worried your snacking is causing problems?

We know that changing habits like snacking can be very difficult. We’re here to offer advice, support and suggestions to help you to cut down on snacks to protect your teeth. Regular checkups with the dentist will help you to monitor the health of your teeth so you can see if your snacking is having a negative impact.

If you have any concerns about enamel erosion or cavities in your teeth contact Bhandal Dental Practice today.