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Dental care

The Bitter Truth About Hidden Sugars In Our Foods

While some foods are marketed as sugar-free, there may still be sugar in them. The meaning of being free of sugar might be interpreted differently by a lot of people. 

However, there are many instances where food appears to not be sweetened, but in reality, it contains sweeteners. Unlike traditional diets, today’s diets emphasize reducing carbohydrate intake rather than fat. Because it has been proven by researchers and physicians that excessive carbohydrate consumption, especially sugar, negatively impacts your dental and your overall health.

It is common to have cravings and we all sometimes consume sugar. It is also normal to consume sugary foods but some food items labeled as no-sugar can do more harm than good. 

So, in this article, we will be going to learn everything about sugars in our food and how it impacts our overall health.

How does sugar impact your health? 

Well, it is obvious that sugar can greatly impact your overall health including your teeth. We have always consumed sugar as part of our daily lives. It is present in almost everything we eat, sweet or not, from our most beloved cereals to our carbonated beverages.

Sweets and other refined items are very bad if taken in excess. And we specifically talk about dental health. It’s not hidden sugars that are a concern, it is the dangerous bacteria that use this substance in your mouth as energy to spread more infection. 

People with diabetes who consume excessive sugar are letting their health go for a toss too. There are chances that they are risking a range of horrible health conditions, such as heart disease, strokes, blindness, and amputated feet.

What kind of sugar should you avoid consuming? 

Sugars that occur naturally in foods and other types that are added to a variety of items are very different. Many carbohydrate food sources, including fruits, vegetables, grains, and milk, contain this substance in its natural form.

Sugars added by suppliers to food products like cereal, candy, junk food, and processed items are referred to as added sugars. However, when added to items such as honey, jams, juices, and soda, they are also classified as added sugars.

In order to avoid adding unnecessary consumption, you should always read the ingredients list. It is up to you to decide how you want to consume this- in a more natural form or in an added or refined form. 

What foods to avoid? 

Here are some food items that you can avoid to keep your dental and overall health on track: 

  • Salad Dressings: A lot of salad dressings have surprisingly high levels of sugar, primarily ranch dressings and blue cheese dressings. Another dressing, raspberry vinaigrette, should also be avoided for the same reason. Next time you’re at the grocery store, check the label of the dressing you buy.   
  • Yogurt: There is no doubt that frozen yogurt has sugar, but even non-frozen ones can be loaded with the substance as well. If you choose yogurt options with less sugar then there is no need to stop consuming them as they are a good source of protein and calcium. You can also try plain yogurt or Greek-style yogurt as alternatives.
  • Pasta Sauce: Pasta sauces with a tomato base can be delicious, but they can also be high in carbohydrates. Because most pasta sauces taste acidic or savory, tomatoes are low in carbohydrates, which may seem surprising. In spite of this, the truth is that commercial pasta sauces often contain a considerable amount of sugar. Alternatively, you can prepare your own sauce or find a low-carb substitute.

Avoiding a staple item from your diet is not easy and the same goes for hidden sugar, yet, we all consume it every day. Therefore, it is important to remember that what you eat most of the time affects your health and not the occasional treats, so don’t be too hard on yourself!

Categories
Dental care

Types Of Tooth Pain: When To Set An Appointment With Your Dentist

Toothaches are unbearable conditions in which you cannot focus on anything other than your teeth. They prevent you from doing any work.

Mild pain may persist for only a short while. There are also times when mild aches develop into severe chronic pain and need to be treated immediately.

There may be an abscess, loose filling, or anything else causing the pain, and it is very important to identify the cause of it to make it stop. In most cases apart from any accident or tooth injury, discomfort and aches in the teeth are an outcome of an abscess or an infection. 

Read on to understand all the necessary information about pain and know when you should consider seeing a dentist or fixing an appointment.

What are the different types of tooth pain? 

Below given are different types of toothache: 

  • Sensitivity: Weakening enamel or receding gum lines are often the causes of sensitivity. Symptoms of enamel wear may also include sensitivity. You will get to know more about it when you visit your dentist regularly. 
  • Dull ache: A dull ache may indicate that you have decay or a piece of food lodged in your tooth.
  • Sharp pain: When biting down on something hard or cold, your problem tooth often experiences a sharp pain. An initial, very sharp pain is often accompanied by an ache or throbbing sensation, but the difference is that the toothache is not accompanied by other symptoms. Many people do not even experience chronic pain. They only experience pain when they bite down on something in an incorrect way. 
  • Throbbing toothache: A throbbing toothache poses a serious health risk. An exposed root or nerve may lead to this condition if your tooth is broken or you don’t treat your gum disease on time.
  • Deliberating toothache: Extreme or debilitating pain may arise from trauma caused by an accident or from the pulp layer and nerves being exposed by a broken tooth. The chances of developing an abscess are higher if you are experiencing painful pressure or noticing facial swelling as well.

An overview of why tooth pain occurs? 

Various degrees of toothache are possible, from mild irritation felt only when teeth come into contact with each other or external substances, to excruciating, severe pain.

A toothache can be caused by a number of factors – some of which are dental, others not. For example, symptoms like pain may be caused by nerve dysfunction.

It is also possible to have pain in the jaw area due to angina or a heart problem, as well as an ear infection. So, to identify the right reason for the pain you must visit your dentist as soon as possible. 

 

When it comes to dental pain, it can develop from the tooth itself. There are several causes of toothache including conditions that affect the gums, the roots of the teeth, the nerves around the tooth, and the jaw muscles.

When to set an appointment with your dentist? 

Discomfort, throbbing sensations, and extreme sensitivity in your teeth are something you do not ignore. You should immediately seek an appointment with your dentist. 

Decay or infection can cause discomfort as well as weaken the structure of teeth, making it more likely to be damaged by injuries, such as cracks or chips when not treated timely. 

It is possible for the inner pulp to die if it becomes infected. In such cases, you need to make an appointment with your dentist because he will remove the teeth to stop the spread of the infection. 

In order to prevent further damage to your teeth, you should seek the immediate attention of your dentist if you experience persistent toothaches, sensitivity, painful chewing, or swelling.