Most people know that consuming too much sugar is bad for their teeth, but many people don’t actually know why sugar is bad or how reducing their sugar intake can improve their overall oral health.

Sugar alone is not the direct cause of tooth decay. Instead, it’s the consequential events that take place after sugar is consumed that can cause the real damage.

How Does Sugar Affect Your Tooth Enamel?

Inside the human mouth, you’ll find hundreds of bacteria. Most of the bacteria are helpful and integral to healthy teeth. However, there are certain types of bacteria that can be harmful. The harmful bacteria feed on sugar, creating acids that destroy tooth enamel.

The Effects of Sugar

The acids produced by the harmful bacteria will eat away the protective enamel found on the outside of teeth. When sugar is left on teeth, these acids can go deeper into other layers of the teeth, resulting in cavities.

By eliminating sugar, you can avoid this process and cavities and keep the protective enamel on your teeth intact for as long as possible. Completely cutting out sugar is a major task. But even limiting your sugar intake can have a huge impact on your oral health.

Saliva Production and Tooth Decay

As the bacteria in the mouth turn sugar into energy, acid is created as a waste product. As the acid dissolves the crystals on the teeth, it causes mineral loss, which can lead to tooth decay, such as cavities and white spots on the teeth.

Saliva production helps prevent tooth decay by washing the sugar out of the mouth, moving it into the stomach, thus preventing the acid from causing real damage. Saliva also helps repair essential minerals and fights bacteria. However, if there are high levels of acid in the mouth, it can hinder the protective effects of saliva, resulting in tooth decay.

Dry Mouth

As you can see, saliva can be a powerful defense against tooth decay, however, dry mouth, which causes a slow production of saliva, can increase a person’s risk of tooth decay.

Dry mouth can be caused by:

• Certain medications
• Dehydration
• Conditions that impact the saliva glands

If you suffer from constant dry mouth, speak with your dentist to determine the cause.

What are Plaque and Tartar?

The bacteria inside the mouth will also produce plaque, which is a sticky substance. If the plaque is not removed, it can harden into tartar, which is more difficult to remove and must be scraped from the teeth. If tartar and plaque problems are not addressed, it can lead to bone loss, tooth loss, gingivitis, and cavities.

pH Levels in the Mouth

Sugar consumption can cause pH levels in the mouth to drop, increasing the levels of harmful bacteria. If the harmful bacteria cause more damage than the good bacteria is able to repair, a person may end up with serious dental problems that will require proper dental treatment.

Should You Eliminate Sugar from Your Diet?

For most people, giving up sugar for good is just impossible. Since there’s added sugar hiding in many different types of food, it can be difficult to get rid of sugar altogether. So, what’s the solution?

Consume sugar in moderation. Try to consume less sugary foods and choose naturally crunchy foods instead, such as apples and carrots. These foods will help remove plaque before it can harden.

How You Can Prevent Sugar from Damaging Your Teeth

Regular dental care is crucial to good oral health. Limiting your sugar intake and eliminating unnecessary sugar, such as refined sugar, can also go a long way toward improving your oral health. You should also floss and brush your teeth twice a day to combat the effects of sugar. Even simply rinsing your mouth out after you eat can help remove any sugar that may be sticking around and help you maintain healthier, stronger teeth.

Signs You Need to See Your Dentist

If you have a sweet tooth and you’ve noticed that your teeth hurt every time you eat sweets, it’s time to schedule a visit with your dentist. Pain and discomfort when eating large amounts of sugar can be a major red flag that you may have cavities.

Other signs it’s time to seek your dentist include:

• Bad breath, even after brushing
• Dry mouth
• Discolored teeth
• Pain when chewing, pain when eating hot or cold food
• Swollen gums, bleeding gums

Schedule an Appointment with Stuart Curry Dentistry Today

While you don’t have to get rid of sugar for good, limiting your sources of sugar and practicing good oral hygiene is important to your dental health.

Scheduling regular checkups and cleanings with your dentist are critical for good oral care. At Stuart Curry Dentistry, we’re here to take care of your oral health needs. Our dentists can spot any signs of tooth decay and help reverse or reduce the damage. Contact our dental office today to schedule your exam and cleaning to prevent the process of tooth decay and to preserve your strong teeth and beautiful smile.