A single sugary food or beverage cannot be blamed for causing tooth decay, obesity and other serious health conditions. Almost all foods have some type of sugar. You cannot and should not remove all sugar from your diet. Many foods and drinks, like apples, carrots and milk, are naturally sweet and have vitamins and nutrients that your body needs.
Yet, from a dental perspective, a steady diet of sugary foods and drinks, including juice and sports drinks, can damage teeth. Cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth feed on sugar and produce acids that attack tooth enamel for up to 20 minutes after you eat or drink. Sipping sugary beverages or eating sugary foods all day results in repeated acid attacks that weaken tooth enamel which can lead to cavities.
To help reduce the risk of tooth decay, read the labels of foods and beverages and make sure they are low in added sugar. If you have a sugary food or drink, have it with a meal. Limit between meal sipping and snacking on sugary beverages and foods. Additional guidelines on a healthy diet are available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) at www.choosemyplate.gov.
The American Dental Association also recommends brushing twice a day with ADA-Accepted fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily, eating a balanced diet and visiting your dentist regularly.
