With Halloween coming up in a few weeks, it’s tempting to avoid sugar in all its forms so that you can gorge on sweets and treat yourself on this spooky holiday.
Resisting sweet foods is hard. Even if you avoid eating candy, cakes, and pies, there are plenty of other ways to add sugar to your diet. For instance, let’s say you prefer to drink your coffee with cream and sugar to give you even more of a morning boost. Here are some useful ways to help decrease your sugar intake.
Track Your Sugar Intake
Have you ever heard the famous phrase, “know thyself?” Before you can start decreasing how much sugar you consume, you need to figure out a baseline.
To many people, food is food, and as long as they are fed, it doesn’t matter what it is. But sugar, and salt, for that matter, won’t only impact your dental and oral health. They can affect your overall health. Use a notebook or a calendar to track your meals every day for a week or two. Pay attention to the nutritional information on the packages to see how much sugar is in what you eat, and record it.
Choose Sugar-Free Items
For many items that traditionally call for lots of sugar, you can find sugar-free items. You’ll also be able to choose no sugar added versions of your favorite foods and desserts. Fall treats such as apple dumplings, pumpkin pies, and pecan pancake syrup can all be made without sugar, so try those, especially if you are worried about sugar-related health conditions such as diabetes.
Chew Some Gum
Chewing some sugar-free gum can help freshen your breath and brighten your smile. However, keep in mind that sugar-free gum is often made with chemical substitutes like xylitol and sorbitol. Too much of them can cause other health issues, especially the laxative kind.
Limit Consumption
With Halloween coming up in a few weeks, it’s tempting to avoid sugar in all its forms so that you can gorge on sweets and treat yourself on this spooky holiday. Still, it’s good practice to limit your sugar intake. You shouldn’t go completely abstinent, but a reasonable amount of something sweet and sugary every so often can be a rewarding indulgence that you don’t need to feel guilty about for its effect on your teeth.
KEEP YOUR MOUTH HAPPY WITH ANNAPOLIS DENTAL CARE!
Whether it’s a regular check-up you need or a tooth extracted, Annapolis Dental Care has the expertise and compassion to work with you on improving your oral health. Your comfort and health are our top priorities, and so we go above and beyond to make our patients happy and give them the highest quality care. To set up an appointment today, please give us a call at 410-571-5014 or visit us online. For more oral health tips for you and your family follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube! We are always looking for new patients, so if you live in Arnold, Annapolis, or Anne Arundel County, MD, come on down!