Sugar is bad for your overall health

You are probably in shock right now about this title LOL! Who are we kidding, everyone knows that sugar is bad for you, but few people know HOW bad, or that added sugar is present in pretty much everything we eat or drink. It's common knowledge that sodas contain a lot of sugar and we should stay away from them, but did you know there is almost as much sugar in "freshly squeezed" Tropicana or Minute Maid orange juice? Yeah, keep reading! Most orange juice comes from Brazil, not Florida, and even “not from concentrate” orange juice is heated, stripped of flavor, stored for up to a year, and then re-flavored and sugar added before it is packaged and sold!


You probably heard your Dentist saying that sugar is bad for your teeth, but surprisingly sugar does not directly cause tooth decay. It's the acid caused by bacteria in your mouth after sugar intake that eventually leads to tooth decay. And this process occurs due to plaque - a sticky film of bacteria covering your teeth and gums, so it takes a while. And if you brush and floss regularly you can minimize the effects drastically!


When sugar comes in contact with the plaque on your teeth it produces the acid and causes a small hole in your enamel. When you don’t brush or floss your teeth regularly, this hole grows bigger and develops into a cavity that causes tooth decay. The sooner you treat the cavity the better since it's smaller, the longer you leave it untreated - it grows bigger and deeper. A small cavity might only need a filling, which is a simple, inexpensive procedure, and it might even be covered by your insurance. The bigger it gets - the harder and costlier it gets, and it might need additional procedures, gum treatment or, goodness gracious, a root canal, you don't want to get there!

Excessive sugar consumption affects your overall health in many ways because it could cause:

• Type II diabetes
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Cancer
• Cavities

Can we prevent the sugar intake? Of course, it starts with replacing soda with water, get that salad with the dressing on the side and don't eat most of it, and try to eat simple, less processed foods.


At least try to prevent the dental problems caused by too much sugar:
Sipping a sugary drink for hours is more harmful for your teeth than eating a cake for 5 minutes.
Try to limit foods and beverages that contain added sugars.
Avoid sugary or sticky foods – candies, cakes, cookies and sugary drinks or sugar added foods.
Brush and floss your teeth twice a day.
Go for regular dental cleanings to prevent plaque formation, in fact make an appointment right now with Aliso Viejo Dental!