Hidden Sugars

August 3, 2020

 

Dental Health Week is a special time of the year as we have the opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of oral health. This year, we have highlighted a few household products that might contain ‘Hidden Sugars’ that you may be consuming and are unaware of.

Dental Health Week is a campaign led by the Australian Dental Association to generate awareness on maintaining good oral hygiene.

This year, the annual campaign will run from Monday, August 3, until Sunday, August 9. It is a time to remind us to look at good oral hygiene practices to prevent oral conditions such as:

• Tooth decay
• Gum disease
• Other linked health issues

Hidden Sugars in your Cupboard

As you know, life can get busy, and you may not be able to spend as much time as you would like to assess what you consume. According to the Australian Dental Association, the daily sugar limit is around 24 grams, which is equivalent to 6 teaspoons. Therefore, hidden sugar in food may quickly increase this limit if we are not careful.

We all love a snack every now and then, but what if you are indulging in a little more than you expect?

We have outlined several items in your cupboard that may contain sugar that you may not be aware of.

Granola or muesli bars

Granola or muesli bars are a great snack you may enjoy at work or your child may have for their school lunch. They are a quick to go snack that is easily accessible in the supermarket.

However, flavoured bars such as chocolate will most likely have a higher sugar count which may increase sugar levels to around 8 to 12 grams.

Furthermore, muesli bars may also include added sweeteners such as dextrose, honey or corn syrup which contain a large quantity of sugar.

Salad dressing

Salad is a healthy food choice but for some it may seem plain and boring. As a result, you may choose to put salad dressing over the top to add some flavour to it.

Salad dressing such as French, Catalina and vinaigrette usually contain the most sugar. In fact, they may contain anywhere from 5 to 7 grams within 2 tablespoons servings.

Dried fruit

Dried fruit is another product you may think is healthy at first but usually contains more sugar than you think.

We have analysed several popular dried fruit options and included the average amount of sugar in them based on a 1-cup ratio. These fruits include:

• Peaches – 67 grams
• Apples – 49 grams
• Apricots – 15 grams
• Dates – 13 grams every 3 dates

Coleslaw

Coleslaw contains a small amount of added sugar, whether you eat it with lunch or dinner or as a side option with KFC.

Up to 15 grams of sugar may be in a regular-sized coleslaw. You may not notice it, but it does add a little bit of a punch.

How to maintain good oral health habits

Your oral health is important, so we have provided some tips to help you maintain it.

Brush and floss your teeth

You may hear this a lot, but this is an essential practice you should do every day to maintain good oral health.

We recommend brushing your teeth 2 times per day and flossing your teeth once a day or after a meal. This helps reduce the risk of plaque build up within your mouth and enhances your smile.

Plaque becomes more tenacious and grows faster after the ingestion of sugar. This results in higher incidence of caries when sugar is consumed in large amounts and high frequency.

Regular dental checkups

During your regular check up, your dentist will be able to assess your current oral health and identify any issues that may occur. In addition, you will also receive a thorough clean of your teeth.

Your dentist will also be able to monitor and treat any issues that may arise. From a dentist perspective, you should visit your dentist every six months to enhance your oral health.

Read the label!

If you are unsure about how much sugar or other ingredients are in a product, read the nutrition label first. Therefore, you will understand what you are about to put into your body. Furthermore, you can visit the website of the product to gain further insight.

If you would like more information about Dental Health Week 2020, visit the Australian Dental Association’s website. They have a variety of valuable resources for your convenience.

If you would like to book in for a treatment or to consult with Dr Franck Page, contact our friendly staff today. Alternatively, you can book an appointment online, 24/7.