Who doesn’t enjoy a little sugar? – a small sweet dish after dinner, an ice-cream on a hot summer’s day or a cold drink to quench your thirst. But it isn’t just your waistline that might be paying for all the yummy candy and chocolate you consume. Your teeth get affected too. While the amount, type and form of the sugar can also depend on the severity of the impact, generally speaking all forms of sugar cause the same effect.
Sugars that come in liquid forms, such as sodas or juices, wash over your entire mouth and get into every nook and cranny of your teeth. This turns out to be harmful because, even with regular brushing, it can sit in hard to reach places and allow bacteria to grow. On the other hand, sugar that you chew is harmful because it can leave a larger than normal amount of residue on your teeth. This residue will not wash away with saliva; again, it creates a more than normal amount of substrate for bacteria.
Sugar is like a magnet for bad bacteria that feed on the sugar you eat and form dental plaque. Bacteria multiplies faster and the plaque grows in size and thickness. Some of the bacteria turns the sugar into a sort of glue that they use to stick themselves to the tooth surface. This makes it harder for the bacteria to get washed away with your saliva.
Eating sugar doesn’t actually harm your oral health, but it’s the acids that the bacteria on your teeth release after breaking sugar down that do. These acids easily dissolve your tooth enamel, increasing your risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease. If you don’t brush and floss your teeth every day, you’re inviting bacteria to damage your oral health by feasting upon the sugar left on your teeth which could lead to decay.
Less tooth decay means you have a less chance of getting cavities which can lead to tooth loss. In fact, there have been many studies linking oral hygiene to heart health, so if you keep your mouth in good shape, your body will reap the benefits as well. Your mouth is like the gateway into your body, so think about what foods you’re putting in there and how they’ll affect you.
In fact, the truth is that you can easily prevent erosion and in turn tooth decay — by brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, rinsing with mouthwash, seeing the best dentist regularly for teeth cleaning and checkups, and of course, avoiding foods that are high in sugar.
Oral hygiene is of utmost importance when it comes to your health. Visit Smilekraft Dentistry at Pimple Saudagar for the best of treatments in dental care. Book an appointment with us today!
