How to Stop Sugar Cravings

Many people regularly experience sugar cravings.

Little do we know, small amounts of sugar can add up to hundreds of calories (and cavities!) that come without any nutritional value.

Extra calories raise your risk of obesity, which in turn can lead to diabetes, and other dangerous diseases.

And everyone knows that sugar is bad for your teeth, leading to plaque build-up, enamel damage, and eventually cavities – which is why here at Bondi Dental, we want to help you stop your sugar cravings before they get out of hand.

How Sugar Harms Your Teeth

• Tooth decay is caused by bacteria in the mouth that feeds on sugar from foods and drinks to produce acids that dissolve and damage the teeth.
• Sugar-sweetened drinks, particularly, have high levels of sugar and drinking them can lead to higher levels of tooth decay.
• Tooth erosion occurs when acid attacks the teeth to dissolve the outer surface of tooth enamel.
• Regular loss of enamel can lead to cavities and exposure of the inner layers of the tooth that may become sensitive and painful.
• Cavities, in turn, can lead to cracked teeth, lost teeth, bone damage, and loss of facial structure.

How Sugar Harms Your Health

• Sugar replaces important nutrients. People who consume the most sugar have the lowest intakes of essential nutrients –– especially vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, vitamin B-12, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron.
• Sugar causes blood glucose to spike and plummet. Unstable blood sugar can lead to mood swings, fatigue, headaches and cravings for more sugar.
• Sugar increases the risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The more foods containing sugar a person consumes, the higher the risk of becoming obese and developing diabetes and heart disease.
• Sugar speeds up aging. Some of the sugar you eat attaches itself to proteins in your body. This leads to loss of elasticity found in aging body tissues.
• Sugar retards the ability to learn. Between 1979 and 1983, 803 New York City public schools reduced the amount of sucrose (table sugar) and eliminated in school lunches and breakfasts. A 15.7 per cent increase in a national academic ranking followed!
• Sugar increases stress. After sugar consumption, the body releases stress hormones such as adrenaline, epinephrine and cortisol. These hormones provide the body with a quick energy boost that also makes us feel anxious, irritable and shaky.

Avoiding Sugars in Your Diet

For a healthy lifestyle and for healthy teeth and gums, think before you consume sugar. It negatively affects your dental and general health.

For good dental health, keep these tips in mind when choosing your meals and snacks:

• Drink plenty of water.
• Read food labels. You’ll quickly realise just how often sugar is added to foods when you look for it on ingredients lists.
• Have a teeth-friendly diet consisting of sugar-free foods and beverages
• Brush and floss your teeth regularly.
• Use fluoride-based toothpaste.
• Visit your Bondi dentist for dental exams at least twice a year.

By taking advantage of these strategies, and working with Bondi Dental, you can assure yourself that too much sugar will not harm your teeth or general health!

The Bondi Dental Advantage

Bondi Dental is in the Eastern Suburbs – Bondi Beach, Bondi in Sydney.

Our skilled dental professionals have over 60 years of combined experience in all fields of dentistry.

Dr Haddon Suttner is the owner and principal Bondi dentist at Bondi Dental. His main emphasis for the practice is to provide a thorough comprehensive diagnosis and to deliver the most therapeutic comfortable treatment.

Bondi Dental has free parking behind our building and offers a FREE Dental check-up.

We are open seven days a week, 8 am – 8 pm!

Call (02) 9365 7187 or request your appointment online.

Visit us at 134 Curlewis St in Bondi Beach.