Eating less than 5 teaspoons of sugar a day reduces the risk of tooth decay

Sugar intake should be reduced to the equivalent of 5 teaspoons per day to reduce the rate of tooth decay.

This recommendation was made by British scientists in a study on the effects of sugar on oral health, recently published in the British Journal of Dental Research.

A team of scientists from Newcastle University has found that when less than 10% of total energy intake comes from sugary foods, tooth decay levels are lower.

Research shows that halving sugar intake to less than 5% of energy intake - about 5 teaspoons of sugar a day - can bring many benefits, minimizing the risk of dental disease throughout life.

Professor Paula Moynihan - head of the research team above said that previously, the appropriate amount of sugar intake was calculated based on the level related to an average of three cavities in 12-year-old children.

In industrialized countries, sweet foods and drinks are now a staple of the diet. Ms Moynihan believes this trend needs to be reversed, with sweets being a treat for special occasions such as birthdays or Christmas.

Since 1990, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that sugar intake should be less than 10% of total energy intake. Health experts also warn that sugar intake should be limited because sugar is a major threat to health and causes many dangerous diseases, such as rapid aging, increased risk of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and myopia./.

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