Eating too many sugary foods and drink can cause damage to teeth within one hour of eating, one expert has claimed.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF), explained that decay can be caused by too much sugar in the diet and may damage teeth, which could lead to the need for emergency dentistry.
“Each time sugar enters the mouth, it acts with the bacteria in plaque to form acid and teeth are under attack for an hour,” the specialist warned.
The BDHF described how when the product is added to drinks such as tea or coffee it adds no nutritional value and could be bad for oral health.
People are advised to reduce their intake of sweet goods, visit their dentist regularly and brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
Dr Carter also recommended chewing sugar-free gum, which can help prevent bacteria build-up and protect smiles.
A survey recently conducted by the Foundation showed that fad diets, such as the maple syrup regime, could cause dental harm due to the high saccharine content.