Understanding Sugar

Understanding sugar is important for protecting your teeth against tooth decay. It is recommended to limit daily sugar intake to 24 grams (6 teaspoons) to decrease your risk of tooth decay.

While limiting your sugar intake is a great way to protect your teeth, it is also just as important to look at the acidity of the foods and liquids you are consuming. Picking sugar free drinks or foods does not protect you from tooth acid erosion.

Thus, it is also important to pay attention to the pH levels of your drinks, the lower the pH, the stronger the acid. Soft drinks typically have a pH of around 2.3 to 3, whereas water has a pH of 7. The difference between these two can really change how well protected your teeth and gums are! So next time you are buying a drink read the nutritional labels and look out for food acids (296,330,331,338).