Get your free sugar! Unfortunately, sugar is never free, whether looking at the health or the look of your smile. Even if it doesn’t cost you any money, the costs to your dental and overall health when you consume large amounts of sugar is far from negligible. Just ask Dr. Brent Engelberg. If you have goals in mind of reducing consumption of sugar, consider research from Newcastle University as a motivation. The scientists at the helm of the trial concluded that reducing sucrose consumption is so effective for dental health, a global initiative is in order.
Cutting Back
Free sugars are not defined as sweets with no consequence financially or calorically. Quite the opposite. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that we greatly reduce intake of “free sugars.” Based on a scientific formula, a person’s total caloric intake should remain less than 10% sugar. Free sugars are the ones which are additives in processed foods. Sugar which is organically found in honey, syrups, and fruits is processed differently by your body. Newcastle University was the site of research commissioned by WHO. Their findings were published in the Journal of Dental Research. The scientists proved that a diet with 10% or less free sugars can greatly reduce cavity rates. Taking this a step further, cutting that number in half (to 5%) lowers tooth decay rates even more.
Fluoride and Water
Newcastle University researcher Professor Moynihan noted: “People now expect to keep their teeth into old age and given that the effects of sugars on our teeth are lifelong then limiting sugars to less than 5% of the calories we eat would minimize the risk of dental caries throughout life.” Looking at tooth decay rates in 12-year-olds, early tooth decay proved a precursor for continued dental problems later in life. “Part of the problem is that sugary foods and drinks are now staples in many people’s diet in industrialized countries, whereas once they were an occasional treat for a birthday or Christmas. We need to reverse this trend,” explains Professor Moynihan. Encouraging kids to drink more water and use fluoridated toothpastes is a great place to start.
ABOUT YOUR GLENCOE DENTIST:
Dr. Brent Engelberg and his highly-skilled team proudly serve patients and their families from Arlington Heights, IL, and all surrounding communities, including; Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, and the Northern and Northwest Chicago Suburbs. To learn more, schedule a consultation online, or call our office today at 847-259-8030.
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