The document discusses the effects of sugar on dental health. It notes that consuming one can of soda contains the equivalent of 7 teaspoons of sugar. It also discusses how sugar releases dopamine in the brain similarly to cocaine, giving a temporary high. Regarding dental health specifically, excess sugar intake can lead to tooth decay, as sugar feeds the bacteria that cause decay. However, moderate sugar intake as part of a balanced diet is acceptable. The document provides solutions like drinking water, eating fruit, and implementing a sugar tax.

1. SUGAR – effects on dental
health
Zak Arin
6th May 2017

2. Structure of talk
 Daily intake
 Effect on the brain
 Effects on Dental health
 Artificial sweeteners
 Solutions
 Conclusion
 References
 Questions and answers

3. Daily Intake
 How much sugar should you take in a
day?
 One can of coke contains 35 grams;
that’s equivalent to 7 teaspoons of
sugar

4. Effect on the brain
It has been argued that
sugar has the same effect
on the brain as cocaine.
Sugar releases dopamine
into the brain giving people
a temporary high.
Global problems inherent
regarding brands such as
Coca Cola.

5. Effects on dental health

6. Effects on dental health cont’d

7.  Aspartame
 Acesulfame potassium
 Splenda
All these can be found in…

8. Artificial sweeteners
 Artificial sweeteners found in zero/ diet
fizzy drinks are (arguably) just as bad.
 There are 92 different side effects
associated with aspartame. Some of
these include depression, high blood
pressure and epilepsy.

9. Solutions
 Drink more water – water contains all
the minerals the human body needs
and has zero calories.
 Eat fruit – fruit may contain sugar but
studies have shown that you would
need to eat 7 portions of fruit a day
before your teeth would decay at the
same rate as someone having one
can of coke a day.

10.  Sugar tax – the food corporations that
put excess sugar in their products
could be taxed for doing so
 France has already begun this process
and has seen a decline in obesity over
the past year.
 May be an agenda item for (dental)
health in the future.

11. Conclusion
 Even though sugar may be bad for you,
humans do need it as part of a balanced
healthy diet, its taking sugar in excess
that causes problems.
 So you can still put sugar in your tea and
coffee as long as you don’t put seven
teaspoons in it.
 Remember that the maximum amount of
sugar a human should take a day is 25
grams.

12. References
Websites
 www.webmd.com
 www.sweetpoison.com
 www.nhs.co.uk
Other sources
 Course information from Moodle
 GDC info
 Dental practice handouts (various)
 Bing and Google images (photographs)

13. Questions and Answers
 Thank you for listening.
 I would now like to take any questions
you may have on the content of
today’s presentation.