Dental health experts think you should finally dismiss these 13 sweet tooth beliefs

The artificial sweetener xylitol has been shown to decrease cavity risk. Some popular gums, like Trident, have it as their main ingredient, says Dr Issac. Chewing xylitol gum may have a small benefit. However, many sugar-free gums use other sweeteners that don’t help and may harm your teeth.

Read on for the things dentists never put in their mouth.

It might seem natural to think that – because baby teeth will be replaced by adult teeth – kids tend to crave sugar more and suffer worse effects from eating it than adults. The truth is, baby teeth have thinner enamel, and their tooth nerves are large. This means that dental decay can develop more quickly and progress all the way to the nerve much quicker than in adult teeth, says Dr Issac.

Sweetened beverages aren’t good for your waistline or oral health, but that isn’t limited to soft drinks. Drinks like fruit juices, lemonade, and Gatorade contain just as much sugar as popular soft drinks and have a similar bad effect on your teeth, says Dr Shafee.

The best way to protect teeth is to brush and floss. Dr Issac says that brushing with a fluoride toothpaste can prevent demineralisation (breakdown of teeth) and help remineralise (build back up enamel), while flossing helps to remove the sugar between teeth where the toothbrush can’t reach.

Don’t miss these common teeth-cleaning mistakes that make dentists cringe.

Is it better to eat a few M&Ms every hour throughout the day or just eat the whole bag at once? From a health perspective, it’s better for your waistline and teeth to eat the entire serving, says Dr Shaffee. Spreading your treats out increases the amount of time sugar stays on your teeth, and it causes insulin spikes which make you crave more sugar more often.

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Source: RD.com