Sugar cravings are the bane of many people’s existence. We know the lovable sugary treats we all give in and eat from time to time can be detrimental to overall health, and especially to our oral health. In this article, our goal is to educate you on the underlying reasons for sugar cravings and just how badly certain sugar-laced foods can destroy your health. It just might make you rethink grabbing that box of candy next time you’re at the store.
Why Do We Get Sugar Cravings?
Before tackling ways to help prevent sugar cravings, it is important to learn the reasoning behind why they even exist in the first place. There are quite a few causes for sugar cravings, so we will be diving into some of the most common ones.
- Sweet Sweet Serotonin – Sugar at its base level is a carbohydrate, and carbohydrates release a “feel good” brain chemical called serotonin along with endorphins which calm and relax us.
- Taste – Humans have developed a natural affinity to the taste of sugar.
- Positive Reinforcement – We oftentimes see eating sugar-based foods as “rewarding” ourselves. This positive correlation between sugar and rewards makes us more prone to crave sugar. Because sugar is readily available in many forms, it is easy to give yourself a “reward” just because it makes us feel good.
- Overabundance – In American society sugar is a commodity laced all over any type of food you can think of, especially when that food is processed.
How Do Sweets Affect My Teeth?
We have all heard before how bad sugar is for our teeth. While true, sugar by itself is not inherently the reason for tooth decay. Sugar is bad because it attracts harmful, cavity-causing bacteria. This bacteria feeds off the sugar we consume to gain acidic energy and attack our teeth. They form a substance called plaque which is laced on your teeth by the bacteria.
It is possible for the plaque to be washed away by saliva, but brushing significantly reduces the amount of bacteria that remains. The more time the teeth are left uncleaned, the more acidic they become. Eventually, the enamel will begin breaking down and cavities will form. Even worse can occur if your mouth remains unchecked.
Liquid sugars are one of the secret cavity makes that people don’t think about like sugary iced coffees and sports drinks. Sipping on these throughout the day or during a workout. This creates an acid attack on the teeth because it takes the body 20 min to neutralize the acidity found in sugars in the mouth. Constant bathing of the teeth causes an increase in the breakdown of enamel. The same is true with mints or lozenges. Looking for sugar-free replacements is a great option to save your teeth from decay.
Tips For Fighting Sugar Cravings
We all have cravings and naturally as humans we tend to give in from time to time, some people more than others. By following these tips, you may be able to help prevent yourself from overindulging in sugary treats.
- Eat Regularly To Satisfaction – Simply eating full meals, enough to keep yourself filled up with rich foods, will help curve your hunger. Also, be sure to eat every couple of hours to avoid becoming overly hungry because of waiting to eat. (every 3 to 5 hours is a good starting point) Keeping yourself content will help remove the urgency to satisfy yourself with unnecessary sugar-filled treats.
- Keep Yourself Occupied – If you are having the craving for something sweet, one possible option is to remove yourself and your mind away from that craving. Activities that take you away from the kitchen such as tending to an errand or going out and exercising are good ways to remove your mind from the cravings you are having.
- Remove Processed Foods From Your Diet – Processed foods are very convenient for a lot of people and usually don’t taste too bad either. Though not necessarily sweet, processed foods can have large amounts of sugars as a means of food preservation. This makes them significantly more unhealthy than their whole food counterparts. Processed foods can help cause heart disease, high blood pressure, and are bad for your teeth, among other negatives.
- Cut Out All Sugars – Some people are able to completely remove simple sugars from their diets. If you can train yourself to forego that sugar for a good amount of time, it is possible to decrease cravings or even get rid of them entirely.
- Satisfy Your Craving – This tip is pretty much the opposite of the last one. Eat a proportional amount of whatever sugary treat you are craving and you may feel satisfied enough to forego eating too much sugar. (think opting to eat a fun-sized candy bar instead of a king-sized one.)
There are a variety of methods you can use with the tips we have laid out for you. Everybody is different, so if one method does not work, try the other ones and see if any of them have a positive effect on you. These defenses against sugary treats can help greatly in both your overall and oral health. Remember, if you do give in be sure to brush yourself sometime shortly after to help fight off that bad bacteria. Contact our office if you’re worried about cavities forming!
