For healthy teeth, food and drinks should be free of added sugar whenever possible.
Tooth decay (dental caries) is a diet related disease. Sugars in the food and drinks you consume mix with the bacteria in the plaque on your teeth and produce acids. These acids attack the outer layers of the tooth (tooth enamel).
Consuming sweet food and drink between meals is a major cause of tooth decay; this is because there is no between-meal period for teeth to undergo recovery. The more often sweet foods and drinks are consumed, the higher the risk of tooth decay.
What you can do to help maintain healthy teeth:
- Limit how often you have sweet food and drinks and consume them during meal times rather than between meals.
Choose healthy snacks such as fresh fruit, vegetable sticks, natural yoghurt, plain popcorn, soups or cheese.
- Choose fresh fruit over dried fruit, as dried fruit will leave a sticky residue on your teeth and can contribute to tooth decay.
- Cut down the sugar added to cups of tea and coffee.
- Drink tap water and plain milk instead of soft drinks, juice or cordial.
- Have a piece of cheese after consuming sweet or acidic food as dairy products assist in reversing the decay process.
Brushing your teeth and cleaning between your teeth is important because it removes plaque. If the plaque isn’t removed, it builds up and can cause tooth decay and gum disease. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day.