Sugars in food and drink

Sugar is one of the main causes of tooth decay, which can lead to holes developing in teeth.

If you have holes in your teeth this could lead to; toothache, sensitivity and white, brown or black spots on your teeth.

Cutting down on the sugars in your food could help to reduce the risk of tooth decay.

It is advised that the frequency of sugars eaten has a big effect on tooth decay, it is recommended that sugary foods are limited to meal times and if snacking between meals keep to snacks such as cheese, vegetable crudités and houmous or fresh fruit.

Sugar is found naturally in fruit and vegetables, but is less likely to cause tooth decay as the sugars are contained in the structure.

Be aware though that when fruit and vegetables are juiced or blended into smoothies the sugars are released and are then more likely to cause damage to teeth, and if being consumed should be part of a meal to help reduce the risk of tooth decay.

Drinks between meals should be limited to water, lower-fat milk and sugar-free drinks regardless of a person’s age, especially in children’s diets.