All our professionals maintain the highest levels of accreditation and pursue ongoing education to stay abreast of the latest trends in dentistry.
Find Us:
| 1235 W. State ST Hastings, MI 49058 (269) 948-8029 |
Patient Library
Find helpful information in our digital library.
Archive:
- 2021
- September (6)
- You Need to Act Fast to Save a Loose Tooth
- Removing a Tooth Could Help Correct This Particular Bite Problem
- Implants Can Provide Effective Options for Total Tooth Replacement
- Take Care of Your Gums - And Your Gums Will Take Care of Your Teeth!
- Plaque Removal is the Top Priority for Preventing or Treating Gum Disease
- Clear Aligners: Another Option Besides Braces for Moving Teeth
- August (6)
- Periodontal Probing Can Tell Us a Lot About the Severity of a Gum Infection
- Stop Tooth Decay Before It Derails Your Child's Dental Development
- 3 Dental Problems That Could Be Causing Excessive Dental Wear
- Don't Be Wary of a Root Canal - Here's How It Could Save Your Tooth
- Think Twice Before You Undergo Botox Treatment for Chronic Jaw Pain
- Which Implant Crown Attachment Method is Best for You?
- July (6)
- Changes Coming in the Use of Antibiotics in Dentistry
- What You Can Do To Help Your Child Avoid Tooth Decay
- Gum Disease Could be Making Other Diseases Worse
- Although It Sounds Exotic, This Mouth Sore Isn't a Big Concern
- Your New Porcelain Veneers Can Last and Look Great a Long Time
- Dental Treatment Depends on What's Really Causing Your Tooth Pain
- June (6)
- How Cheese and Other Dairy Contribute to Healthier Teeth and a More Photogenic Smile
- Sedation Can Help an Anxious Child Relax During Dental Treatment
- This One Cosmetic Method Could Improve a Multiple of Tooth Flaws
- 3 Quick Dental Procedures to Put the Dazzle in Your Wedding Day Smile
- Gum Disease Could Impact More Than Your Oral Health
- Managing Oral Health Is an Important Priority for HIV-AID Patients
- May (7)
- 3 Tips to Make Mealtimes More Enjoyable With TMD
- 4 Reasons Dental Implants Are a Wise Choice for Tooth Replacement
- Saving a Diseased Tooth Rather Than Replacing It Could Be the Better Option
- 5 Things You Can Do To Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy
- Treating Tooth Sensitivity Depends on Its Cause
- Practical Tips for Keeping Your Teeth Clean While Wearing Braces
- 3 Things That Could Help You Avoid Another Round With Gum Disease
- April (6)
- Thumb Sucking and Tongue Thrusting Could Cause a Poor Bite
- Gum Disease Can Be Stopped but You Could Be in For a Long Fight
- Veneers Could 'Turn Back the Clock' on Your Smile
- 4 Ways Alcohol Could Affect Your Oral Health
- 3 Things You Should Do to Overcome Oral Cancer
- Dental Implants Are Even More Advanced, Thanks To These Other Technologies
- March (6)
- Implants Could Help You Keep Remaining Teeth Longer
- Here's Why Gum Disease Could Be Lurking in Your Mouth Even Now
- How You Can Help Your Smile Stay Attractive as You Get Older
- On World Oral Health Day Take Pride in Your Mouth With These Care Tips
- This Minor Dental Procedure Could Make Breastfeeding Easier for an Infant
- A New Dental Pain Management Approach Reduces the Need for Narcotics
- January (7)
- 4 Guidelines to Help Make Sure Your Child's Oral Health Stays on Track
- Local Anesthesia Makes for a More Pleasant and Pain-Free Dental Experience
- Hoping to Show Your Smile Again in 2021? Be Sure You're Ready
- Your Gums Need Extra Care After Periodontal Disease
- Infection Control at the Dental Office Isn't Something New
- How to Ensure Your Child's Teeth and Gums Stay Healthy Now and Later
- Keep Your Child's Fluoride Intake at a Safe but Effective Level
- 2020
- December (6)
- Don't Let Bad Breath Ruin Your Date Under the Mistletoe
- The Kind of Tooth Pain You Have May Identify the True Problem
- Although Challenging, Cleaning Around Implants Boosts Their Longevity
- Here's What To Do If Your Child Complains of a Toothache
- Targeted Tooth Removal Could Aid Treatment for Certain Bite Problems
- Your Food's Micronutrients Make a Difference in Your Dental Health
- November (6)
- New Recommendations Make Water Fluoridation Safer Than Ever
- That Energy Drink You Take for a Boost Might Be Hurting Your Dental Health
- Keep Your Implants Clean to Avoid a Damaging Gum Infection
- Today's Dentures Are More Secure and Comfortable to Wear
- How to Avoid This Painful Condition After Tooth Extraction
- A Mild NSAID May Be All You Need To Manage Discomfort After Dental Work
- October (6)
- Preventing Gum Disease Could Help More Than Your Teeth and Gums
- Dental Implants Could Help You Avoid This Long-Term Effect of Losing Teeth
- 3 Ways to Protect Your Dental Work From an Early Demise
- Use Appropriate Hygiene Products for Maximum Smile Protection
- Far From a Safer Alternative to Smoking, Vaping Could Ruin Your Oral Health
- A Little Daily Brushing and Flossing Can Add Up to a Lifetime of Healthy Teeth and Gums
- September (6)
- How to Care for Your Child's Valuable Primary Teeth
- Improve Your Smile With These Dental Enhancements
- Get Your Teeth Examined if You Have Frequent Sinus Infections
- Replace Your Teeth in Stages With the Help of Dental Implants
- Your Dentist Could Help You Overcome Sleep Apnea
- Eliminating an Infant's Lip or Tongue Tie Can Make Breastfeeding Easier
- August (6)
- We Need to Act Quickly to Save Your Loose Tooth
- Keep These Top Factors in Mind When Buying Your Next Toothbrush
- Sedation Can Help a Child Receive Needed Dental Care Now and in the Future
- Your 'Toothache' Might Signal a Problem Other Than in Your Mouth
- Porcelain Veneers Could Change Your Smile and Your Life!
- Use This Product to Check Your Brushing and Flossing Effectiveness
- July (6)
- A Shingles Outbreak Could Interrupt Your Dental Care
- Getting Implants Can Be a Long Process - But Worth it
- Here Is How We May Be Able to Bring an Impacted Tooth Where It Should Be
- Some Simple Cosmetic Techniques Could Help Your Smile Age Gracefully
- Even All-Natural Fruit Juices Could Raise Your Child's Risk for Tooth Decay
- Implants Make Dentures More Secure, Comfortable and Bone-Friendly
- June (6)
- Answering Your Questions about Your Upcoming Teeth Whitening
- A Little Dairy Can Go a Long Way for Maintaining Healthy Teeth
- Prevention and Early Detection of Root Cavities Could Save a Tooth
- Here's the Scoop on Your Upcoming Root Canal
- That Odd 'Lacy' Mouth Sore is No Cause for Alarm
- Treating Gum Disease is Good for Your Whole Body, Not Just Your Mouth
- May (7)
- 3 Surprising Things You Should Be Doing to Improve Your Dental Health
- 3 Reasons a Root Canal Treatment Might Fail and What You Can Do About It
- With Outdoor Sports (Hopefully) Poised to Begin, Be Prepared for Oral Injuries
- 3 Things You Should Do to Protect Your Teeth Later in Life
- Instill These Habits in Your Child for a Lifetime of Great Dental Health
- Diabetes Can Make Getting an Implant Difficult, But Not Impossible
- Friendly Bacteria Can Help Protect Our Mouths From Disease
- April (6)
- Are Lasers the Future for Treating Advanced Tooth Decay?
- These High-Tech Tools Help Your Veneers Look Attractive and Natural
- Need a Root Canal? Here's a Step-by-Step Guide on What to Expect
- Give Your Child Added Protection Against Cavities With Topical Fluoride
- Oral Cancer Is Deadly - But You Can Lower Your Risk With a Healthy Lifestyle
- Managing Diabetes and Gum Disease Together will Lessen the Effect of Both
- March (6)
- What to Do For Mouth Injuries Your Child Might Encounter
- A Pediatric Dentist Could be a Great Choice for Your Child's Dental Care
- Make Efforts to Protect Your Teeth from Disease While Wearing Braces
- Conscious Sedation can Help Ease Your Child's Dental Visit Anxiety
- Removing One or More Teeth Could Improve Orthodontic Outcomes
- See Your Dentist ASAP to Save Your Loose Tooth
- February (6)
- A Root Canal Treatment can Save Your Tooth and Relieve Pain
- A Loose Tooth is a Sign of Deeper Dental Trouble
- One Visit May Be All You Need to Restore a Chipped Tooth
- Here's How to Avoid Dry Socket After Tooth Extraction Surgery
- Extracting a Tooth is a Routine Procedure
- An Infected or Injured Primary Tooth Can Be Saved - but it's Complicated
- January (6)
- 4 Things to Do to Keep Your Child's Dental Development on Track
- Like the Pros, the Athlete in Your Family Needs a Mouthguard to Prevent Dental Injuries
- Cosmetic Gum Surgery Can Help Restore Lost Tissues Around Teeth
- Improve Your Brushing and Flossing Techniques for a Healthier Mouth
- 4 Ways You Can Improve Your Smile in the New Year
- You May Need Something Other Than Ointment to Clear up This Facial Rash
- 2019
- December (6)
- Here's How to Cut Through All the Choices to Find Your Right Toothbrush
- You may need a Periodontist to Fully Treat Your Gum Disease
- How Dentists Provide Your Child the Benefit of X-Rays as Safely as Possible
- For a Smooth Transition, Be Sure Your New Dentist Has Your Dental Records
- 4 Common Causes for Gum Recession
- Teeth Grinding Could Endanger Your Dental Health
- November (6)
- Share These Timely Dental Care Tips With Your College-Bound Son or Daughter
- Professional Whitening Offers an Effective Way to Restore Your Smile's Luster
- Teens May Need a Temporary Restoration for Missing Teeth
- Seek Coordinated Treatment If You Have Both TMD and Fibromyalgia
- Don't Let Gum Disease Cut Short Your Implant's Service Life
- To Extract or not Extract? The Big Decision About Your Child's Wisdom Teeth
- October (6)
- Implant Failure Is Rare, but Possible. Here Are a Few Ways to Avoid It
- There Are a Lot of Bacteria in Your Mouth but Only a Few Mean You Harm
- The Triple Partnership That Could Save a Cancer Patient's Oral Health
- Clean Your Implants Just Like Your Other Teeth
- You May Need an Endodontist for a Tooth With Interior Decay
- How to Lower Your Child's Tooth Decay Risk From Halloween Candy
- September (6)
- Behavioral Therapy Could Reduce a Child's Dental Anxiety Without Drugs
- Don't Delay Seeing the Dentist If You Suspect Gum Recession
- Dental Sealants Give Children an Added Boost Against Tooth Decay
- Two Mouth and Face Pain Disorders and What You Can Do About Them
- Watch Out for These Dental Health Issues as You Age
- 4 Ways You Can Take Years off Your Smile
- August (6)
- That Toothache Might Not Be From Your Tooth: The Problem of Referred Pain
- Implant-Supported Dentures Could Improve Your Bone Health
- Considering a Smile Makeover? Be Sure You Include Your Bite
- Look for These Basics When Buying Your Next Toothbrush
- Don't Let Summer Heat Increase Your Risk of Dental Disease
- Do a Little Extra Food Prep to Ease TMD Discomfort
- July (7)
- A Child's Damaged Tooth may require a Different Approach than an Adult's
- Jaw Joint Disorders may be Connected to Other Health Problems
- Simple or Surgical? Choosing the Right Kind of Tooth Extraction
- How to Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy During Pregnancy
- Even All-Natural Fruit Juice Could Increase the Risk of Tooth Decay
- This Rare Tongue Condition Often Looks Worse than it Actually is
- Take a Look into Your Future with a Trial Smile
- June (6)
- Root Canals are a Safe Way to Save Teeth
- Here's How You Can Protect Your Child's Teeth from Tooth Decay
- Tooth Type and Condition can Affect Root Canal Therapy Effectiveness
- Manage Your GERD Symptoms to Prevent Enamel Erosion
- Getting a New 'Tooth in a Day' Will Depend on Your Bone Health
- Dentures with Implants Could Help You Avoid Bone Loss
- May (6)
- Your Teenager not Ready for an Implant? Here's What We Can Do Instead
- Affordable Veneers Can Give You a New Smile
- Root Canal Therapy Might Just Save Your Tooth!
- A Detailed 'Smile Analysis' Sets the Stage for a Successful Makeover
- Keep an Eye on Your Family's Fluoride Intake
- 3 Things You Can do to Help Promote Your Child's Dental Development
- April (6)
- Gum Disease Could be Affecting More Than Just Your Mouth
- Prompt Treatment for Gum Disease Could Ultimately Save Your Teeth
- Don't Use Benzocaine Products to Ease Your Baby's Teething Pain
- Here's How to Care for 3 Common Dental Restorations
- Your Teenager's Teeth May Not Be Mature Enough for Veneers
- Stress and Nighttime Teeth Grinding
- March (6)
- March Is the Time to Evaluate Sleep Problems
- Get a Look at Your Future Makeover Look Now with a 'Trial Smile'
- Treating Gum Abscesses and the Underlying Gum Disease
- What You Should Do to Protect an Older Loved One's Dental Health
- Catch Root Resorption Early for Best Chances of Saving Your Tooth
- Dental Sealants can help Prevent Tooth Decay in Children
- February (6)
- Watch Out for Signs of Gum Recession
- You May Need Your Dentist's Help Easing the Pain of Severe Canker Sores
- 4 Things to Avoid if You Want to Support Your Child's Dental Development
- Here's What you Need to Know about a Root Canal Treatment
- Stop Gum Disease Before it Harms Your Health
- Your Regular Dental Visits Might Change if You've had Gum Disease
- January (6)
- A New Veneer with Minimal or No Tooth Alteration
- 3 Reasons Why Your New Dentist Needs Your Treatment Records
- What Happens in a Root Canal Treatment and How it Can Save Your Tooth
- 'Get Rid' of Those Unattractive Teeth with Porcelain Veneers
- Dental Implants Better than Ever thanks to Ongoing Tech Advances
- 4 Ways to Check on Your Brushing and Flossing Effectiveness
- 2018
- December (6)
- Treating Gum Disease around Tooth Roots is Hard - but Not Impossible
- Take Care of Your Dental Appliance and It Will Take Care of You
- Porcelain Veneers Might not be the Best Option for Teenagers
- Be Alert to the Unintended Consequences of Cancer Treatment to Oral Health
- Early Action Needed to Save Your Tooth from Root Resorption
- Keeping Your Smile Healthy Through the Holidays
- November (6)
- A Stainless Steel Crown Could Help a Struggling Primary Molar Last Longer
- Have Your Child's Chronic Mouth Breathing Checked to Avoid Bite Problems
- Don't Ignore Sudden Tooth Pain - Your Teeth may be Telling you Something
- Advanced Equipment and Safe Practices Ensure X-Ray Safety for Children
- TMD and Fibromyalgia Could Share Links in Chronic Pain
- Practice Caution with Energy or Sports Drinks to Protect Your Enamel
- October (6)
- Five Tips for Top-Notch Tooth Brushing
- New Dental Advances Promise Better Outcomes for Treating Decay
- Dental Implants can also Support Other Traditional Restorations
- Inflammation is a Key Element in Both Oral and Systemic Diseases
- Loose Permanent Teeth is a Problem - take Action Now
- Stay Ahead of Plaque Buildup with Effective Brushing and Flossing
- September (6)
- The Parent-Dentist Partnership: Establishing Better Oral Health for Your Child
- 4 Reasons Why You May Need to See a Periodontist for Your Gum Disease
- What You Should Know About a Home Teeth Whitening Kit
- 3 Surprising Sugar Sources Your Baby Might be Consuming
- Protect Your Teeth During Football Season
- Ease Your Child's Teething Discomfort with these Tips
- July (7)
- Implant-Based Removable Dentures a Good Choice for Patients with Extensive Bone Loss
- Think Water First for Summer Thirst
- Don't Take a Vacation From Oral Hygiene This Summer!
- No- or Minimal-Prep Veneers Reduce Permanent Alterations to Your Teeth
- We'll Help You Maintain Your Oral Health After Gum Disease
- Your Dental Care Efforts are Just as Important as Your Dentist's
- Tips for Picture-Perfect Summer Smiles
- June (6)
- Bone Grafting Might be Necessary Before You Obtain an Implant
- FAQs About Children's Dental Development
- Take These Measures to Lower Your Child's Tooth Decay Risk
- Finding the Right Solution for Your Gummy Smile
- June Is Men's Health Month
- Use the Same Prevention Strategy to Defeat Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
- March (5)
- It's Spring Cleaning Time...for Your Teeth!
- Provisional Restorations let you Try out Your New Smile First
- 3 Fluoride Sources You Should Monitor for Your Family's Dental Health
- 3 Tips for Helping Your Kids Develop Great Tooth-Friendly Habits
- Why the Ointment You're Using Could be Making Your Facial Rash Worse
- 2017
- 2016
- November (5)
- Reduce Your Oral Cancer Risk with Better Diet and Lifestyle Choices
- Clear Aligners Make it Easier for Teenagers to have Their Teeth Straightened
- 4 Reasons you may want Your Dentist to Whiten Your Teeth
- Transform Your Smile and Dental Health by Correcting Your Bad Bite
- Follow These Common Sense Steps When Your Child has a Toothache
- October (5)
- What to Expect Before, During and After Implant Surgery
- Don't let Gum Disease - the 'Other Dental Disease' - Rob you of Your Smile
- Reduce Sugar Consumption - for a Healthier Mouth and Body
- Keeping up Good Hygiene Still a Necessity with Dental Implants
- Teenagers May Need a Temporary Tooth Replacement
- August (5)
- Do you need Simple Tooth Removal or Surgery? It Depends on a few Factors
- People Born with Missing Teeth can Still Gain a Beautiful Smile
- You can Still have Implants with Diabetes - if you have it under Control
- See Your new Look Before Dental Work with a 'Trial Smile'
- Topical Fluoride Adds Extra Protection against Tooth Decay
- June (5)
- Keeping Gum Disease at Bay Could Help Your Overall Health
- The Risk for Gum Disease Increases While Wearing Braces
- Monitoring Blood Pressure is Also Important During Dental Care
- Adult Tooth Root Resorption is a Serious Issue that Requires Prompt Action
- Weigh a Poor Smile's Emotional and Social Cost when Considering Restorations
- March (5)
- Surgically Accessing Sinuses can Help Grow New Bone for Implants
- Kids, Cats and Canines: Dental Development Through the Ages
- Removable Dentures Remain a Viable Option for People with Total Tooth Loss
- Advancing Gum Disease Requires Thorough Treatment to Control it
- Support Your Child's Teeth Development with Proper Hygiene and Dental Care
- 2015
- 2014
- December (5)
- Reduce Your Risk of Oral Cancer With a Healthy Whole Food Diet
- Periodontal Surgery may be Needed to Halt Gum Disease and Encourage Healing
- Extend the Life of Your Dental Appliance With Proper Care
- More Than a new Smile - Dental Implants Help Stop Bone Loss as Well
- Dealing With Dental Emergencies While Traveling Abroad
- August (5)
- Does Your Toothbrush Need A Cleaning?
- Replace Missing Teeth to Prevent Other Teeth From Moving Out of Place
- Composite Resins are a Viable Restoration Option for Mildly Defective Teeth
- A Fixed Bridge Remains an Effective Option for Tooth Replacement
- Make Informed Choices on Drinking Water by Knowing the Facts
- April (5)
- Five Things You Should Know About Sleep Apnea
- Seeking Relief From Burning Mouth Syndrome
- Non-Vital Bleaching Removes Unsightly Tooth Discoloration From Within
- Considering Bone and Gums Critical to Achieving a Better Smile With Implants
- Know What to do to Ease Your Child Out of the Thumb Sucking Habit
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011
Tags
- celebrity smiles (6)
- dental hygiene (4)
- teeth whitening (14)
- cosmetic dentistry (51)
- dental implants (45)
- diabetes (4)
- periodontal (gum) disease (5)
- smile makeover (27)
- wedding day smiles (2)
- veneers (8)
- teeth grinding (7)
- oral health (107)
- night guards (1)
- crowns (6)
- mouthguards (4)
- sports dentistry (4)
- dental injuries (5)
- nutrition (14)
- oral cancer (8)
- fluoride (8)
- dental injury (6)
- dental emergency (2)
- root canal (14)
- tooth decay (29)
- dental health tips (1)
- oral hygiene (56)
- tmd (4)
- tmj (5)
- laser dentistry (3)
- common symptoms (6)
- wedding day smile (1)
- sinus pain (1)
- brushing teeth (2)
- denture (1)
- sleep apnea (4)
- snoring (4)
- bridgework (2)
- tongue scraper (1)
- bad breath (4)
- replacing teeth (3)
- missing tooth (3)
- dental implant (13)
- tooth loss (2)
- dental emergencies (2)
- dental hygienist (1)
- dry mouth (1)
- fun dental facts (1)
- pediatric dentistry (47)
- wisdom teeth (5)
- sensitive teeth (3)
- snoring and sleep apnea (2)
- tooth wear (3)
- grinding (1)
- sedation dentistry (4)
- oral sedation (2)
- gum recession (10)
- endodontics (1)
- crown (2)
- discolored teeth (1)
- bleaching (1)
- stained teeth (1)
- missing teeth (2)
- clear orthodontic aligners (2)
- invisalign (2)
- orthodontics (8)
- removable partial dentures (1)
- loose teeth (3)
- periodontal disease (17)
- gum disease (56)
- braces (5)
- root planing (1)
- gluten (1)
- porcelain veneers (15)
- pregnancy (6)
- cosmetic gum surgery (3)
- tooth extraction (3)
- chipped tooth (2)
- bonding (2)
- dental crowns (1)
- thumb sucking (3)
- whitening (1)
- jaw pain (4)
- tooth contouring (1)
- water (1)
- composite resins (1)
- periodontal surgery (3)
- dental appliance (1)
- oral surgery (1)
- bleeding gums (1)
- gingivitis (1)
- inflammation (1)
- chipped teeth (1)
- blood pressure medications (1)
- medicine (3)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- root resorption (3)
- cold sore (1)
- tmj disorders (8)
- dental anxiety (1)
- baby teeth (1)
- topical fluoride (2)
- antibiotics (1)
- space maintainer (2)
- smile design (3)
- canker sore (1)
- dental specialists (1)
- tooth pain (4)
- partial dentures (1)
- orthodontic treatment (8)
- adult orthodontics (1)
- dental exam (3)
- removable dentures (1)
- sinus surgery (1)
- aspirin (1)
- tooth staining (1)
- dentures (8)
- cracked mouth (1)
- dentistry (1)
- mouth rash (1)
- tooth replacement (1)
- sugar (3)
- toothache (4)
- clear aligners (3)
- pain management (1)
- air abrasion (1)
- local anesthesia (2)
- burning mouth syndrome (1)
- x-rays (4)
- dental implant bridge (1)
- bacteria (1)
- root canal treatment (13)
- eating disorders (1)
- bruxism (1)
- gummy smile (2)
- dental visit (1)
- dental care (3)
- loose tooth (5)
- smoking (1)
- x-ray (2)
- sealants (2)
- fillings (1)
- bone graft (1)
- teething (2)
- sports drinks (1)
- cancer (1)
- dental records (1)
- canker sores (1)
- dental sealants (1)
- fluroide (1)
- bridge (1)
- gerd (1)
- removable partial denture (1)
- toothbrush (1)
- mouthguard (1)
- tooth extractions (1)
- dry socket (2)
- mouth sore (1)
- vaping (1)
- extractions (1)
- (1)
Categories:
Reduce Sugar Consumption - for a Healthier Mouth and Body
Tooth decay doesn't appear out of nowhere. It begins with bacteria, which produce acid that softens and erodes tooth enamel. Without adequate enamel protection, cavities can develop.
So, one of our prevention goals is to decrease populations of disease-causing bacteria. One way is to deprive them of carbohydrates, a prime food source, most notably refined sugar. That's why for decades dentists have instructed patients to limit their intake of sugar, especially between meal snacks.
Ironically, we're now consuming more rather than less sugar from a generation ago. The higher consumption impacts more than dental health — it's believed to be a contributing factor in many health problems, especially in children. Thirty years ago it was nearly impossible to find a child in the U.S. with type 2 diabetes: today, there are over 50,000 documented juvenile cases.
Cutting back isn't easy. For one thing, we're hard-wired for sweet-tasting foods. Our ancestors trusted such foods when there was limited food safety knowledge. Most of us today still have our "sweet tooth."
There's also another factor: the processed food industry. When food researchers concluded fats were a health hazard the government changed dietary guidelines. Food processors faced a problem because they used fats as a flavor enhancer. To restore flavor they began adding small amounts of sugar to foods like lunch meat, bread, tomato sauce and peanut butter. Today, three-quarters of the 600,000 available processed food items contain some form of added sugar.
Although difficult given your available supermarket choices, limiting your sugar intake to the recommended 6 teaspoons a day will reduce your risk for dental and some general diseases. There are things you can do: replace processed foods with more fresh fruits and vegetables; read food labels for sugar content to make better purchasing decisions; drink water for hydration rather than soda (which can contain two-thirds of your daily recommended sugar allowance), sports drinks or juices; and exercise regularly.
Keeping your sugar consumption under control will help you reduce the risk of tooth decay. You'll be helping your overall health too.
If you would like more information on the effect of sugar on health, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “The Bitter Truth about Sugar.”