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4 signs of excess sugar intake and how it can affect dental health

4 signs of excess sugar intake and how it can affect dental health

Excess sugar is linked to multiple health issues, from diabetes to cardiovascular diseases and chronic illnesses. With the increasing availability of packaged foods and baked goods at local stores, it is possible to go overboard with sugar if one is not careful. However, one can keep an eye out for common signs of excessive sugar and limit sweetened food and drink. So, here are a few signs of high sugar intake to recognize:

Frequent sugar cravings
If one eats too much sugar, they will continue to crave sugary foods and beverages. This is because sugar intake releases dopamine, which is responsible for feelings of pleasure in the brain, so one can crave this feeling and indulge in more sweet foods. So, if one notices persistent cravings, it could be a sign that they need to limit sugary foods and find healthier alternatives.

Energy crash
This is a common and often unnoticed sign of excess sugar intake. Contrary to popular belief, sugar does not lead to constant energy throughout the day. The ingredient is responsible for an instant boost or rush of energy as the body gets busy utilizing this sugar. However, due to a rapid rise in blood glucose, the body produces insulin to balance the excess sugar. This leads to a sudden drop in blood sugar levels and energy, making one feel fatigued and tired.

Skin issues
A visible early sign of excessive sugar intake is persistent skin issues. High sugar intake can lead to inflammation, which is the cause of major diseases, including skin conditions. Here, conditions like rosacea, eczema, and acne can be triggered. Collagen is a protein that maintains skin elasticity, making one look young. Excessive sugar can cause collagen to break down faster.

Excessive thirst
When one has a lot of sugar, the kidneys have to work harder to filter out the excess glucose from the bloodstream. The additional glucose is filtered through urine, making one feel more thirsty.

Excess sugar and dental health
Dental caries are a major health issue and the most noncommunicable disease in the world. Excess intake of sugar from sweetened beverages, cereals, preserves syrups etc is a leading cause of this health issue. Oral health suffers significantly when there is an excess in consumption of sugar and can result in painful visits to the dentists and even tooth extractions for very serious cases.

Apart from health issues that excessive sugar may cause, it can also impact oral health in a severe way and lead to dental cavities and tooth decay. These issues can also interfere with the healing process after dental implants.

In some cases it can cause teeth discoloration. This is because high sugar intake encourages the growth of bacteria, which can affect the color and strength of the enamel. So, one may require whitening treatments to deal with the visual effects of excessive sugar.

Too much sugar is harmful to oral health and can be the cause of much larger health issues. Limit intake and avoid excessive indulgence in artificially sweetened food. The Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 has advised that all people in the country aged 2 and older should limit added sugars in their meals. It should be less than 10 percent of total calories. It also recommends that toddlers and infants younger than 2 years not be given food or beverages with any added sugars.

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