A diet high on sugar is one of the biggest causes of tooth decay that can lead to cavities and possibly tooth loss. Cutting down on sugar in your diet can be one of the best actions that you can opt to improve your oral health. You need not have tremendous amount of willpower to initiate a diet that lets you consume less and less of sugar. Here are four ways that will help you cut down on sugar in your diet. Identify Your Sugar Intake
Identify your main source of sugar. Is it your cups of coffee throughout the day or is it the dessert craving that you just cannot control. Limit the intake of food items like cakes, chips, chocolates, commercial fruit juices, sodas, and other sweetened beverages and processed baked foods. Even things that you don’t think are sweet contain sugar such as tomato sauce, condiments, and salad dressings. Cut down on sugar by reducing the amount of sugar in your tea or coffee. If you have been adding three teaspoons of sugar to your tea, then try to reduce this to two within a week and then gradually one.
Sugar is hidden in processed foods such as candy bars, fruit bars, popcorn, pretzels, granola, energy bars, and salad dressings. Low fat foods are often marketed as healthy, but you may not know that most of the time they have also been processed and replaced by artificial sweeteners. Substitute your habit of eating junk foods with nutritious foods. Try to cook and prepare food on your own as this will dramatically help cut down on sugar intake over time. Follow this approach for at least a month and observe the difference.
Our elders often say that breakfast is an essential meal of the day. Dentists stress on the fact that breakfast should be consumed correctly. Your breakfast should ideally have fibrous goodness, which is the perfect way to keep sugar cravings and tooth decay at bay. The combination of dried fruits, puffed rice, and sugar-coated nuts may appear healthy, but in reality, they result in tooth decay. Therefore, try to swap the sugary cereal for a bowl of porridge that is topped with fresh fruit and natural yogurt. You may not know, but following this breakfast routine can help cut down on sugar content by 29 grams per day!
A simple change in your routine can help cut down on sugar. Studies have shown that the more sleep you get, the less likely you will fall prey to sugary items. Sugar contains carbohydrates and when people are tired, they may feel the need to consume sugary and energy drinks to get some energy back. But, they don’t know that this habit can increase the chances of tooth decay and cavities. Therefore, try to have enough sleep when you are tired.
The key to achieving success is to be dedicated to cut down on sugar consumption and not experiencing it as an irritation. Also, don’t try reaching an ideal level of perfection, instead, set realistic goals. Contact our dental professionals for guidance on proper diet and nutrition for good oral health.