Diet & Your Teeth

It's not how much sugar — it's how often

Every time you eat or drink something sugary, the bacteria in plaque turn the sugar to acid and your teeth come under attack for up to an hour. Saliva then slowly repairs the damage. Eat sweets across a whole afternoon and your teeth never get a chance to recover — that's how decay starts. The frequency of sugar matters far more than the amount.

Golden rules

1. Keep sugary food and drink to mealtimes only.
2. Limit snacking — if you need one, choose cheese, nuts, plain yoghurt, vegetables or bread-based snacks.
3. Drink water or plain milk between meals. Tea and coffee without sugar are fine.
4. Watch out for hidden sugars: flavoured water, fruit juice, smoothies, cereals, sauces and "no added sugar" drinks that are still acidic (see tooth erosion).
5. Finish meals with cheese or milk to neutralise acid.

Dried fruit & juice — the healthy-sounding culprits

Raisins and dried fruit are concentrated sugar that sticks to teeth, and fruit juice releases the fruit's sugar in its most damaging form. Both are best kept to mealtimes; whole fresh fruit is a far safer snack.

Beyond sugar

A balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruit, wholegrains and calcium keeps gums and teeth strong. Acidic drinks erode enamel even without sugar. And if you chew gum, make it sugar-free — it genuinely helps by stimulating saliva.

Want personal advice? Ask at your next check-up or call 0141 554 0499.