A refresher on sugar and oral health

Diet is a major causative factor in the development of dental caries. Consuming excess free sugar in food and drink contributes to the development of dental caries (Morgan, 2018; Fairchild and Morgan, 2007) and increases the risk of obesity, which is associated with greater risks of developing type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease and various cancers (BASCD, 2018). Obesity itself is also a well-established risk factor for tooth decay (BASCD, 2018).

You can’t cut the head off from the rest of the body, what you eat affects your oral and general health. It’s important to ‘sing from the same hymn sheet’ across dental, nutrition, dietetics and medical disciplines to avoid confusion and misinterpretation of health messages.