Over the last 30 years our national diet has changed dramatically to include many more processed foods, snacks and soft drinks. Many of these contain a high proportion of sugars, salt and fat. The more we snack the more we need to be careful of what we eat and how best to protect our teeth.

Sugar and caries
Plaque is a soft, sticky bacterial deposit that forms on the surface of the teeth. When you eat foods containing sugars, the bacteria in the plaque feed on the sugar to produce plaque acids which attack the enamel of the tooth surface, causing decay (caries). The more often you eat or drink products that contain sugars, the more acid attacks your teeth will suffer. The sugars that cause most dental decay are those which are added to food and drinks during manufacture, processing or food preparation. These account for almost three-quarters of all sugars eaten in the UK diet. They are found in confectionery, soft drinks, cakes, biscuits, table sugar and a range of snacks and ready foods. Sugars that are naturally present in foods such as milk, fruit and vegetables are not an important
cause of decay.

Sugary drinks
Children's teeth are particularly prone to damage from sugars, and they should be given sugarfree drinks whenever possible. Check labels carefully to find out whether foods and drinks contain sugars*. Never leave a child to drink a sweetened drink from a bottle, especially at bedtime or as a comforter. Fruit juices contain sugars and should be diluted, one part juice to ten parts water for younger children. Always serve in a cup at mealtimes.

Reducing the damage
• The most important measure is to reduce the frequency of sugar intake. Cut down on sugar-containing drinks and foods, particularly between meals
• Snack instead on crisp vegetables, fruit, cheese, bread and unsweetened yoghurt
• Milk and water are good choices for drinks
• Restrict eating sugar-containing foods and drinks to mealtimes, when saliva production is high and can neutralise plaque acids
• Some sweets are more harmful than others. If you must eat sweet things, keep them for a special treat, and eat all in one go rather than nibbling all through the day
• Get label-aware. Check for sugars in prepared foods and avoid them between meals

Sugarfree gum
Chewing sugarfree gum increases the flow of saliva during and after chewing, which neutralises the plaque acids generated by the sugar. For best effect, chew after meals and snacks for 20 minutes.

Sugars in medicines
Sugars have been included in some medicines to make them more palatable, but these can also cause decay. Most children's medicines and cough/sore throat sweets now have sugar-free alternatives: Ask the doctor or pharmacist for these.