Snacks or sugar-flavoured foods are consumed regularly by sugar lovers and they are often tasty and nice. Just like the bacteria present in the human mouth, what’s inside sugar can have a damaging effect on your teeth. Sugar lovers like adding a bit more sugar to their daily diet as a way to perk up or just appreciate a few more food. There are a few strategies sugar lovers may try to minimize potential issues with their teeth such as teeth cavities and teeth decay.
Believe it or not, teeth cavities are not induced by sugar. One of the most widely believed myth is the idea that the too much sugar consumption is the direct cause of teeth cavities.
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The reality is that sugar consumption induces teeth decay only when there is an excess of bacteria in the mouth that causes teeth cavities and that can turn sugar into enamel demineralizing acids. Individuals who do not have a strong bacterial problem or a large amount of cavity-causing bacteria on their teeth are at lower risk of teeth cavities.
Let’s look at how sugar lovers can avoid the damaging effects of sugar on their teeth.
6 Dental Tips For Sugar Lovers To Avoid Tooth Cavities or Teeth Decay
- Brush Day And Night: Even though this tip may seem too obvious at first, it includes some things sugar lovers may not think they could add to their routine. In addition to a regular dental exam, constant brushing on the teeth will help reduce the bacteria. As a person with a busy schedule, the commitment to a brushing regimen may be complicated. Consider carrying in your daily work kit, a portable toothbrush, which you can whip out when you want to fight sugar effects on your teeth. Just after eating a snack, you can go to a bathroom to check after your teeth.
- Do Not Take Sugar During The Night: After dinner, it is common for many people to get a little hungry. This can be particularly true if you need to eat early in the evening and stay up a couple of hours before your usual bedtime. Keeping your teeth clean may however mean avoiding sugar at night. At night and during sleep, the mouth tends to be drier, and it produces less saliva to fight teeth decay. Sugar lovers that eat sugar before bed increases their risk of bacterial problems since their mouth’s defenses will not be able to effectively tackle the bacteria issue.
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- Eat The Right Sweets: Many foods containing sugar are worse than others. Sugars that melt gradually, become sticky, or that even contain added acids should be avoided as part of your recipe. Instead, sugar lovers are adviced to use sugar treats which can be consumed in the mouth without the additional acids or long-term exposure. A cookie, for example, can be a better choice than a chewy fruity candy which also includes citric acid. Although sugar does nothing to enhance oral health, it has been shown that xylitol, a natural non-nutritious sweetener, assists in prevention of teeth cavities and teeth decay. It does so partially because the xylitol is ingested by harmful bacteria but can not be used as fuel by the bacteria. Thus, the bacteria feed through death themselves. Xylitol gum can be your friend in preventing teeth decay.
- Rinse Your Mouth After Chewing: Even if after any snack you can not brush your teeth, for good measure, you may be able to use a little of oral rinse around. Mouthwash with a bit of fluoride can be helpful for sugar lovers but natural toothpaste is better. Only tossing around small volume of plain water in your mouth will help remove some of the unhealthy sugar components.
- Chew Sugar-free Gum: Another alternative for sugar lovers after a snack, is to chew gum. Chewing sugar-free gum has been shown to increase the flow of saliva, thereby reducing plaque acid, strengthening the teeth and reducing teeth decay.
- See Your Dentist Often: Participating in your own oral hygiene is one side of the equation which contributes to healthy teeth. The other side of the coin involves making regular appointments with your dentist. A dental consultation should typically provide instructions for routine cleaning, flossing and likely use mouthwash. A skilled orthodontist can check for cavities, remove plaque and make suggestions for improving oral health.
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How Sugar Affects Your Teeth
Like I said earlier, one of the most widely held misconceptions of dentistry is the idea that the sugar intake is the direct cause of tooth decay. The reality is that sugar consumption induces tooth decay only when there is an excess of bacteria in the mouth that causes teeth cavities and that can turn sugar into enamel demineralizes acids.
The problem with sugar is that it causes the following two negative effects in the mouth:
- Sugar Produces Acid When It Mixes With Saliva: Sugar as a compound does not break up the enamel teeth by its action alone, the protective covering of the surrounding teeth prevents premature tooth decay. However, when sugar in sodas, sweets, and other foods comes into contact with saliva, the saliva is prompted to release acid which helps break down the fruit. Unfortunately, the same acid that improves absorption also breaks down the enamel teeth.
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- Sugar Produces Stronger Bacteria When It Mixes With Bacteria: In our mouth, the bacteria love sugar just as much as sugar lovers do. While some bacteria are normal and even somewhat healthy, the type of bacteria attracted to and thriving off sugar is the same type that usually causes plaque. These plaque-causing bacteria absorbs sugar that accelerates its development and enhances its capacity to bind to the enamel teeth. The larger and more aggressive bacteria eat through the enamel teeth and eventually create holes in the teeth, also called a teeth cavities.
Sugar lover, hope you now understand the mechanism behind the action of sugar on the teeth.
Final Thoughts
Sugar can cause troubles for sensitive teeth, but for every tasty snack you eat you don’t have to feel guilty. Applying a few proper tips to your dental hygiene routine can make sure you enjoy some of your favourite comfort foods.
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Eating sugar and keeping a healthy, bright smile will easily be done if sugar lovers control their mouth’s pH to avoid creating a constant oral acidic environment.
Your must learn how to manage your oral environment and avoid acid erosion and cavities.