Sugar & your smile |
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Watch your sugar intake You’ve heard it ever since you were a kid: sugar’s bad for your teeth. But telling an Australian not to eat sugar is like telling a koala not to eat gum leaves. Though we may never give up sugar altogether, we can at least control our intake by knowing how much sugar is contained in the different food and drink we consume. You should also watch your intake of sugar and starch combinations—such as biscuits, cakes and fast foods. Sugar/starch combinations are more cariogenic than sugars alone. The following list shows the approximate amounts of sugar added to some common types of food and drink. And, bear in mind, natural sugar is often already present in the ingredients. You’ll be surprised just how much “added sugar” there is in your life …
Read the label The following sweeteners are equivalent to or greater than sugar. All can cause decay.
When you buy a food or drink product, look for “unsweetened” or “artificially sweetened” alternatives. The following artificial sweeteners do not cause decay. However, some are suspected to cause other health problems. You may like to investigate the issues before reaching for the artificial sweetener.
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