(By Dr. Joseph D. Lim and Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI)
SUGAR is sweet, sure. Overindulgence may also lead to dental caries, or tooth decay.
Dental caries develops when bacteria in the mouth metabolize sugars to produce acid that demineralizes the hard tissues of the teeth (enamel and dentine).
Dental caries is the most common noncommunicable disease worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), noting that it is an expensive disease to treat, consuming as much as 10 percent of healthcare budgets in industrialized countries, and is among the main reasons for hospitalization of children in some high-income countries.
The WHO says dental caries can be prevented by avoiding dietary free sugars. What if sugars can’t be avoided, especially during desserts even when we already feel full?
Never mind that you’re feeling full – just thinking about it triggers cravings for sweets.
The brain’s reward system is activated by sugar, says Lauren Manaker, a registered dietitian writing in Yahoo Life online.
“You’ve just devoured a big meal, where you’ve piled your plate high and are so full that you’re considering unbuttoning your pants, and yet the moment someone mentions dessert, you’re somehow willing and able to keep eating.”
There may be a scientific reason as to why this happens and it’s called “dessert stomach” and it starts in the brain, says Ms. Manaker.
She cites a study conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research in Germany pointing to hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons as responsible for craving sweets – even after a full dinner. The POMC is located in the hypothalamus, the area in the brain that regulates hormones and sensations like hunger, thirst, drowsiness and fullness.
The neurons release beta-endorphin, a chemical that initiates feelings of pleasure.
The Max Planck researchers found that POMC neurons tells a person that he or she is also satiated. At the same time, it also sends a signal signifying the desire for sugary treats.
“From an evolutionary perspective, this makes sense: sugar is rare in nature, but provides quick energy,” the Yahoo Life article quotes a press statement from Henning Fenselau, the study lead researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research. “The brain is programmed to control the intake of sugar whenever it is available.”
“Research has shown that the same neurons that are responsible for signaling fullness also trigger cravings for sweets,” Dr. Britta Reierson, a family physician and obesity medicine specialist, tells Yahoo Life.
“This craving for dessert even when we are full is a fascinating phenomenon, and it involves a combination of factors,” she says. “Sugar naturally provides a rapid energy boost. So this drive to consume sugar, even when full, may have been advantageous for survival.”
She continues: “The brain’s reward system is activated by sugar, releasing pleasure-inducing chemicals that make sugary treats irresistible. This craving can be even stronger when we perceive or taste dessert, enhancing that desire to eat even when we are full.”
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Dr. Joseph D. Lim, Ed. D., is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology; and Founding Chairman of the Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.
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Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of the Philippines, College of Dentistry, Manila, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, De la Salle University, Manila, 2002; and Master of Science (MSc.) in Oral Implantology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 2019. He is an Associate Professor; Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists; and Fellow, Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail limdentalcenter@gmail.com/PN
