Blog / Dental Health

6 Tips for Controlling Your Sweet Tooth Tendencies

October 21, 2013

Most people are worried about eating too many sweets because of the effect it will have on the size of their waist. However, sweets can also greatly impact the health of your teeth.

Display of sweet treats, including cupcakes, cookies, and cake

Ingredients Matter

Depending on what type of sweets you have, some are worse than others. For instance, liquid sweets such as soda, diet soda, sweet tea or juice will rapidly coat all of your tooth surfaces and begin causing demineralization of your tooth enamel. Frequent intake of these on a daily basis is a sure way to cause decay between all of your teeth. On the other hand, snacks like the occasional brownie or non-sticky treat won’t do as much damage to your teeth as it does toward your weight, because it only has a limited amount of contact time with your mouth.

For most people, it’s ok to indulge every now and then with a dessert. Just remember the key is moderation and limiting the amount of time that sugars (whether natural or artificial) have in contact with your teeth. Nutrition experts recommend some easy steps that you can take to help you suppress your sweet tooth.

Tip:  Drink plenty of water

Sometimes needing to rehydrate is actually perceived by your body as being hungry. Drinking a tall glass of water several times a day can prevent dehydration and curb sugar cravings.

Tip:  Eat regularly

Even if that means smaller, more frequent meals. Do not let yourself become too hungry as this can cause your blood sugar levels to drop, creating a desire for sweets. Resist the urge to use sweet snacks as meal replacements throughout your busy day.  Carry protein-filled granola bars if you think you won’t have time to grab a meal.

Tip:  Keep healthy snacks on hand

Keep healthy snacks at hand, and you’ll more frequently consume them than their unhealthy alternatives.  We recommend organic bananas, apples, strawberries and other healthy fruits.

Tip:  Get busy

Exercise is a great distraction and can boost your energy, making your body forget that it’s hungry. Once you’ve committed to an exercise regimen, you’ll find that you will want to eat and snack healthier.

Tip:  Increase your protein and healthy fat intake

Protein and healthy types of fat consumption will help you feel satisfied longer. Avoid complex carbohydrates and sugars, which often make up the bulk of popular breakfast foods.

Tip:  Get enough sleep each day

Make sleeping a priority, in order to prevent yourself from becoming exhausted. If you’re running low on energy you may go for sweets in order to get a rush.

Maintain an effective strategy to keep your sweet tooth under control, and you’ll have a healthier life and a happier smile!  If you have questions about specific foods that are in your diets, our dentists would love to talk with you!