When we indulge in something sweet, it cheers us up. But it’s not necessarily good for our teeth. For the bacteria that live on them, sugar is the ideal food. They transform it into acids that then attack tooth enamel.
In this way, over time, the tooth becomes porous and prone to microorganisms, which destroy it from within, experts explain. In short: cavities occur.
But, hand on heart, we have to admit that a life without chocolate or cakes is very sad. Besides, it is possible to indulge yourself and at the same time pay attention to your oral health.
Dentist Jochen Schmidt gives the following advice:
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It’s better to indulge once than to snack constantly.
Constantly reaching into your pocket and pulling out candy is not a good idea. “Nothing is more harmful than constantly consuming something sweet,” Schmidt warns.
Because then our saliva does not have enough time to neutralize the acids after each bite. It is better to eat something sweet once a day, whether it is a dessert after a meal or a piece of cake.
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Drink something sweet with a straw
Store-bought lemonade, cola, iced tea – these drinks are also considered sweets because of their high sugar content. In addition, many of them contain citric acid as an additive, which can damage tooth enamel. One trick dentist Schmidt uses is to drink these drinks through a straw. “This way, the liquid is diverted away from our teeth.”
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Cheese is a healthier snack alternative for our teeth
It may not necessarily have to be something sweet that will satisfy our desire for a snack between meals. If you decide to have a piece of Gouda or Camembert cheese, you will even be doing something good for your teeth. Cheese contains milk proteins that bind to your teeth when you chew it. This keeps acids at a distance and prevents them from attacking tooth enamel.