Sugar-Free Doesn’t Mean Dental Care Free
|February 4, 2016
If you think that Sugar-Free means no more trips to the dentist, you would be sadly mistaken.
A new study from the Oral Health Cooperative Research Center at the University of Melbourne suggests that sugar-free and low sugar food items don’t automatically guarantee a healthier mouth. Here’s what your La Jolla dentist found out about “sugar-free” and care-free.
Dental Patients Still at Risk for Tooth Loss
While this new study found that sugar-free items help reduce the chance of developing cavities, good oral hygiene is still vital. Specifically, your San Diego dentist recommends that you:
- Stay informed. The researchers in the Melbourne study tested 23 drinks and found that sugar-free generally meant they had additional acidic additives. High acid content in food and drinks such as citrus drinks is corrosive to the enamel on your teeth. Make sure you know what you’re eating and drinking.
- Limit intake. Although something may be lower in sugar, you shouldn’t feel free to increase your consumption. Unfortunately, too often when we see the word “diet” on a package it signals that it’s okay to eat more. You could easily increase your intake of other harmful ingredients without realizing it.
- Maintain good dental health. Okay – at the risk of sounding redundant – good dental care is vital. The only way to maintain healthy teeth and gums is to brush and floss daily, as well as to see your La Jolla dentist regularly. Otherwise, you could wind up with gum disease and possibly tooth loss.
Even if you adjust your diet to include less sugary items, don’t adjust your excellent dental habits.
Best Option for Multiple Tooth Loss May Be Sugar-Free
Regardless of whether or not you consume sugar-free items, tooth loss may occur. Poor dental habits, disease, an accident, aging, smoking, and heredity are all factors that can lead to tooth loss.
Facing tooth loss means you face a tough decision. What are you going to do to correct the situation? While you may consider speaking to your San Diego dentist about dentures or a bridge, don’t neglect to ask about dental implants.
Dental implants offer you the best option for tooth loss. Other options don’t provide sufficient support to your jawbone potentially leading to bone resorption and facial collapse.
Dental implants, on the other hand, look and function most like your natural teeth. They make it easier to eat and speak, and because they are not susceptible to cavities, caring for them is easy as well. Just treat them as you would your natural teeth: brush, floss, and visit your La Jolla dentist regularly.
It’s smart to limit your intake of sugar especially when combined with the acidity of soda and sports drinks. The best way to ensure you eat a healthy diet is to speak with your health care professionals.
If you would like more information regarding Sugar-Free and your teeth and gums, call and schedule an appointment with your dentist in La Jolla today.