4 Basic Foods/Drinks That Affect Your Oral Health

Overview
Did you know that most of the foods and drinks people consume daily contain a great amount of sugar? Many people consume more sugar from what they eat and drink without realizing it. It’s crucial to know and understand how much sugar is contained in whatever you take into your mouth daily. By so doing, you will know the actual quantity to be consumed; it will help you stay to check on your sugar consumption.

There are some categories of foods and drinks that contain too much sugar. People should watch it when consuming these. They are:

1. Soft Drinks: yes, soft drinks! The sugar level in soft drinks is so unimaginable! These drinks taste nice and satisfying, but the truth is, they can actually wreak havoc not just on your teeth, but also on your overall oral health, especially if the consumption is on a regular basis. Sounds crazy right? Absolutely! Many notable sodas are actually packed with sugar. Some 12-ounce cans may contain up to 46 grams of sugar. This is dangerous because it is almost double of the daily recommended intake.
   
   Be that as it may, sugar isn’t the only problem associated with the consumption of soft drinks. This is said because the phosphoric acid in sodas is capable of destroying/wearing away tooth enamel, thereby making the teeth more susceptible to decay and cavities.
   
   
2. Fruit Juice: many people see fruit juices as supplement for fruits, but the truth is, they are not! Parents especially, tend to choose fruit juices for their children because they believe they are “healthy.” Here is the bitter truth: fruit juices are not good for the teeth as presumed because they often contain great amounts of sugar. Let’s take this example: a 10-ounce bottle of orange juice unarguably contains approximately 35g of sugar, lemonade also contains 36g of sugar. Looking at this analysis, we could see that fruit juices contain a great amount of sugar.  More so, fruit juice is highly acidic. As earlier stated, these acids can unarguably wear away tooth enamel, which may eventually lead to having sensitive teeth, cavities or decay.
   
   3. Flavoring: did you know that flavors like ketchup, sauce, etc. contain a great amount of sugar? Surprisingly, these extra toppings are overly underrated. Because they are toppings, people tend to neglect the fact that they usually contain a great amount of sugar, so, pay less attention to them. It’s important to know that when trying to make extra toppings, you should always remember to use a little amount of sugar so as not to consume too much sugar unexpectedly.
   
   4. Breakfast Cereals: I guess most people are ignorant of the fact that certain breakfast cereals actually contain a great amount of sugar. The problem with these cereals containing too much sugar is that they can lead to tooth cavity, amongst other dental issues. It even becomes worse if these cereals are consumed daily. Even though most of these cereals containing 15 grams of sugar per serving are aimed at children, adult cereals aren’t left out as they also contain a great amount of sugar also.
   
   The best thing to do when purchasing cereals either for yourself or your kids is to read the nutritional label and find an option that’s high in fiber with no added sugar.   
   

Taking care of your oral health is paramount, and that includes taking note of what you consume. Not everything that seems edible should go into your mouth at all times. Be mindful of your sugar consumption as this will, to some extent, prevent you from having dental problems.