Sugary Snacks - Why the Average 17-Year Old Has More Than Three Decayed Teeth

What's wrong with sugary snacks, anyway?
Sugary snacks taste so good, but they aren't so good for your teeth or your body.  The candies, cakes, cookies, and other sugary foods that kids love to eat between meals can cause tooth decay.  Some sugary foods also have a lot of fat in them.

Did you know that the average American eats about 147 pounds of sugar a year?  That's a big pile of sugar!  No wonder the average 17-year old in this country has more than three decayed teeth.

How do sugars attach your teeth?
Invisible germs called bacteria live in your mouth all the time.  Some of these bacteria form a sticky material called plaque on the surface of the teeth.  When you put sugar in your mouth, the bacteria in the plaque gobble up the sweet stuff and turn it into acids.  These acids are powerful enough to dissolve the hard enamel that covers your teeth.  That's how cavities get started.  If you don't eat much sugar, the bacteria can't produce as much of the acid that eats away enamel.

How can I "snack smart" to protect myself from tooth decay?
Before you start munching on a snack, ask yourself what's in the food you've chosen.  Is it loaded with sugar?  If it is, think again.  Another choice would be better for your mouth.  Gooey or chewy sweets spend more time sticking to the surface of your teeth.  Because sticky snacks stay in your mouth longer than foods that you quickly chew and swallow, they give your teeth a longer sugar bath.

You should also think about when and how often you eat snacks.  Do you nibble on sugary snacks many times throughout the day, or do you usually just have dessert after diner?  Damaging acids form in your mouth every time you eat a sugary snack.  The acids continue to affect your teeth for at least 20 minutes before they are neutralized and can no longer do any harm.  So the more times you eat sugary snacks during the day, the more often you feed bacteria the fuel they need to cause tooth decay.

If you eat sweets, it's best to eat them as dessert after a main meal instead of several times a day between meals.  Whenever you eat sweets - in any meal or snack - brush your teeth well with a fluoride toothpaste afterward.

Low-fat choices like raw vegetables, fresh fruits, or whole-grain crackers or bread are smart choices.  Eating the right foods can help protect you from tooth decay and other diseases.