Dec. 9, 2013 — Newcastle University researchers have completed a study into the effects of sugars on our overall oral health and their recommendation to reduce the amount of sugar which will help reduce tooth decay and improve our health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended for twenty four years that intake of “free sugars” should be less than 10% of total energy (calorie) intake. Free sugars are sugars that are added to foods by the manufacturers, cooks, or consumers; plus those naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit concentrates.
The Newcastle University study finds that when 10% less sugars is reduced from diets, there are much lower levels of tooth decay. The study also suggests;” halving this threshold for sugars to less than 5% of calories — around five teaspoons a day — would bring further benefits, minimizing the risk of dental cavities throughout life.”
Bottom line; cut in halve the amount of sugar in our diets will insure that we keep our teeth for life!
Professor Moynihan, Professor of Nutrition and Oral Health at Newcastle University said: “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”.1
Parents are encouraged to limit the amount of sugar in children’s diet. With the acceptance of sugars in our diet coming from sugary foods and drinks which have become staples in many people’s diets, more thought, better information on the health risks of sugary foods and drinks, is necessary to insure the family’s over all heath.
Dr. Anne A. Nicholas of The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Periodontics, Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, recommends getting your teeth cleaned and examined every six month to prevent dental caries and other oral health issues that may occur.