Some Cereal Has More Sugar Than Dessert, Causing Dental Decay

By Susan Braden

Everybody loves a good bowl of cereal. But recently, scientists have discovered that this easy and delicious breakfast item could be contributing to many oral health issues, including decay. If you enjoy munching on your Special K every morning, you may want to consider insurance for dental problems.

Study Results

A recent study shows that several popular breakfast cereals contain more sugar than cakes, donuts and even ice cream. Those with the highest content include:

• Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut cornflakes
• Kellogg’s Coco Pops
• Weetabix Minis Chocolate Crisp

MySupermarket.co.uk found that other varieties, such as Shreddies and Special K, also have more sugar than some cakes. Therefore, eating lots of cereal may be a good reason to update your insurance or research other insurance options.

The Comparison

Manufacturers said that their products still only counted for a fraction of the average person’s sugar intake. The food and grocery comparison Web site collected data on the sugar content of several leading brands and compared them to some of the most popular snacks and desserts in the nation.

• A jam doughnut has 8.6 grams
• A scoop of vanilla ice cream has 10 grams
• Vienetta ice cream cake has 11 grams per slice

Not all the cereals had a higher content per serving than these snacks, but most of them had more than a slice of McVities chocolate cake, which contains 5.4 grams. Since acidic reactions from sugar can break down the enamel on the teeth, you may want to schedule regular cleanings with your dentist. Insurance can help make this more affordable. Some insurance will even provide additional discounts for preventative measures like this.

The Consumer’s Choice

Jonny Steel, a spokesman for mySupermarket.co.uk, stated, “Consumers can end up thinking they are choosing a healthy cereal, often because some sound healthy or simply look healthy because of how they are marketed. Yet, as with any product bought, shoppers need to make sure they read the nutritional information on the packet to understand the content.” Steel also commented that salt levels were higher than usual. However, “Breakfast cereals contribute less than 5% salt and sugar to an average day’s diet and are packed full of vitamins, minerals and fiber,” said the Association of Cereal Food Manufacturers.

It may be quick and easy, but if your dental condition isn’t up to par, your Cheerios may be to blame. Insurance for dental hygiene could help save your teeth and still allow you to enjoy a bowl every once in awhile.