Curbing Your Sugar Intake for Healthy Teeth

Many people have heard that sugar will rot your teeth, and it’s true. Sugar is directly correlated to how many cavities you develop. Why? Sugar is the substance that combines with bacteria in your mouth to make plaque. That plaque causes your teeth to decay. The more sugar you eat, the higher your risk for tooth decay. That is why curbing your sugar intake is so important if you want to have healthy teeth.

What Is Sugar?

Many people know that sugar is the sweet stuff added to most foods and drinks. But, what is it really? Essentially, sugar is a soluble carbohydrate found in nature, which means it’s a carbohydrate that your body can digest in food. You get it from plants such as sugar cane and the sugar beet.

However, in modern times, sugar is found not only in nature, but in many lab-made sources. These go by countless names such as sucrose, fructose invert sugar, malt sugar, brown sugar, corn sweetener and more. The American Heart Association also adds more items to the list such as honey, corn syrup, molasses, regular syrup, fruit juice concentrates and anything ending in “ose” on a label. If you look at food labels, you will find many different sources of sugar in most foods. Natural sugar can be fine in food items such as fruit, as long as they are eaten in moderation. However, added sugars are found in almost everything nowadays. It’s also no surprise that the amount of cavities people are getting has risen as well.

How Sugar Affects Your Teeth

Sugar is one of the worst things for your teeth. When you eat something with sugar in it, it mixes with bacteria in your mouth to form a sticky substance that is acidic. That substance is plaque, and that plaque sticks to your teeth and stays there. It won’t wash away by drinking water, so you have to physically brush it away. If not, you will start to develop oral health problems like tooth decay and gum disease.

Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

Do you know what some of the most prevalent diseases are in Americans? Tooth decay and gum disease. What’s worse is that many people don’t even realize that they have these conditions. Tooth decay happens when plaque sits on the teeth for too long. Acidic plaque will stick to a person’s tooth enamel and will slowly eat that enamel away. If it is able to wear away enough of the hard, outer enamel, it will start to get to the inside layers of the tooth. This causes toothaches due to infections and decay spreads. If it gets too advanced, much of the tooth will decay and a person could lose their tooth. However, it all starts with that initial sugar intake.

Gum disease is a close cousin to tooth decay. This is a silent disease that affects at least half of all American adults, or about 64.7 million. It’s silent because the symptoms are not painful for a patient. When plaque sits on the teeth, it’s acidic nature makes it irritate the gums. If a patient doesn’t brush their teeth often, they will notice that their gums start to take on a darker red color. They will bleed easier and may even be swollen and irritated. Over time, the gums will start to recede—or move away—from the acidic plaque. This will start to expose a person’s tooth root, which can be painfully sensitive. If severe gum disease happens, a person’s teeth can start to fall out. Crazy how much can happen if you don’t control your sugar intake and oral hygiene!

Easy Ways to Cut Down Your Sugar Intake

If you are getting cavities a lot, but you feel like you brush and floss your teeth often, take a look at what you are eating. Are you snacking in between meals? Is sugar the main ingredient in most of the foods you are eating? Are you drinking anything other than water or milk? Many patients may be eating well, but they are drinking lots of soda or juice at home, which contain high amounts of sugar

Here are some tips to cut back on your sugar intake to keep your teeth healthy:

• Swap all your drinks out for water or milk. If you must drink soda or sugary drinks, limit them to once or twice a week instead of every day.
• Check food labels at the store. Opt for foods and drinks that are “sugar free” and stay away from foods like cereal, sugary yogurts, snack foods and processed foods.
• Don’t add sugars to your foods such as cereal or coffee.
• Eat fruit instead of candy or sweets.
• Eat a smaller portion of a treat.
• Don’t snack on a treat for long periods of time, such as suckers or bites of cake here and there. Eat your meal and dessert (if you are having any), then brush your teeth afterwards.

Healthy Teeth for Life

When sugar is so sweet, it can be hard to cut it from your diet. However, your body and your teeth will thank you. There are many sweet things in life, and you should always choose the sweet things that don’t harm your health. If you struggle to cut down on your sugar intake, try doing it with a friend. Up your game with your oral health routine to try to combat the sugar that is made into plaque in your mouth. Better yet, make sure you are seeing a dentist often and brushing your teeth every single day.

Yes, sugar is directly related to tooth decay and gum disease. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a sweet treat every so often. Just don’t load up on sugar all day long. If you want tips for curbing your sugar intake and combatting tooth decay, call Stonebrook Family Dental at (303) 872-7907!