WHAT SUGAR DOES TO YOUR TEETH AND WHY IT’S BAD

No doubt you’ve heard that you should avoid sugar to protect your teeth. But sugar makes food so tasty, it may be hard to follow that advice. If you have trouble resisting the temptation to indulge in sugar, it might help to learn exactly what sugar does to your teeth and why it’s bad.

HOW CAVITIES OCCUR

Your mouth contains hundreds of various kinds of bacteria. These bacteria are a natural part of the microbial habitat inside the oral cavity. Put simply, they are just part of being human. Now, when you eat sugar, some of the harmful bacteria feeds on the sugar in your mouth. They subsequently produce an acid byproduct, which also lingers in your mouth. That acid then sits on the tooth enamel and eats away at, creating a hole, or a cavity as we call it. That’s how cavities occur.

THE DANGERS OF CAVITIES

When cavities form on the tooth enamel, that’s one problem. But when the acid is allowed to keep eating away at the tooth, the cavity goes beyond the enamel layer. If it’s still left untreated, the cavity can grow even deeper through the layers of the tooth, where it eventually may expose a nerve. Once that happens, you get a toothache.

HOW SUGAR CAN CAUSE TOOTH LOSS

As you can see, sugar is the instigator of the cavity forming process. If you continue to indulge in sugar, and don’t take care of your teeth with oral hygiene and regular dental appointments, tooth loss will likely occur. Eventually, the acid that’s formed from harmful bacteria feeding off of residual sugar in your mouth eats its way below the gum line. There, it’s just a short distance to the root of your tooth, where it continues to erode the tooth. The tooth becomes loose and eventually falls out.

ANOTHER REASON TO AVOID SUGAR

Sugar also causes another problem related to oral health. If you load up on sugary foods and drinks, your appetite and taste buds will be ruined for healthier foods. A diet high in sugar is often lacking in proper nutrients. If you are vitamin deficient, your teeth and gums will not get the nutrients they need to remain strong and healthy.

HOW TO AVOID PROBLEMS CAUSED BY SUGAR

Of course, this entire process is avoidable. You don’t have to experience any of these problems caused by sugar. Here are some steps you can take to ensure a lifetime of strong, healthy teeth.

• Avoid eating sugary foods
• Brush and floss after every meal
• Have regular dental checkups
• Take care of other dental problems, such as dry mouth
• Rinse with fluoride at least once daily
• Drink fluoridated water
• Consider getting dental sealants
• Get treatment for toothaches as soon as possible

Now that you have a better understanding of what sugar does to your teeth and why it’s bad, it should be a little easier to abstain from eating and drinking sugary treats. To make a dentist appointment now, please contact us today.