What does Sugar do to Your Teeth?
Excessive sugar consumption is a magnet for bad bacteria and helps the bacteria thrive. The most destructive bacteria in your mouth feed on the sugar and leave dental plaque as a by-product. The dental plaque forms a sticky and colourless film on your teeth’s surface. The plaque build-up forms an acidic layer on your teeth that can gradually dissolve the protective outer surface of your teeth. This is the process of tooth decay.
When tooth decay isn’t managed properly, it can form cavities that expose a tooth’s pulp which may eventually become infected. If the decay gets worse, the tooth may require root canal treatment or extraction.
Here are Some Clear Signs That Says You are Consuming Sugar Beyond a Prescribed Limit:
- Breaking out in acnes
- Feeling tired or wiped out
- High cholesterol levels
- Hypertension
- Putting on extra inches
- Cavities
- High-sugar diets raise the body’s inflammation levels, resulting in depression
These are Some of the Most Sugar Laden Food and Drinks:
Most Australians consume Sugar in the form of energy-dense and low-nutrition foods and drinks. Some of the high-sugar foods and drinks include:
- Soft drinks and energy drinks contain 19% sugar
- Similarly, packaged fruit and vegetable juices have a 13% sugar content
- Confectionery – 8.7%
- Cordial drinks – 4.9%
Tips to Fight Tooth Decay
Research has found that other than a sugary diet, other factors can fasten or slow down the development of cavities. These include saliva, poor eating habits, and lack of oral hygiene.
Below are some ways you can fight tooth decay:
- Watch What You Eat – Avoid food or beverages with high sugar content.
- Avoid sugary drinks between meals
- Avoid eating and drinking anything before going to bed
- Drink water or rinse your mouth after eating a sugary snack
- Visit your dentist if you find any signs of dental decay.
Cutting down on sugar consumption can benefit your overall health. Diet with high sugar content is often linked to obesity and increased risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.
Moreover, the more Sugar you consume, the more you risk tooth decay and periodontitis. Tooth decay is one of Australia’s most common dental problems and has been experienced by more than 90% of the adult population at one point in their lives. Besides affecting physical well-being, oral health can impact your psychological health and quality of life.
Knowing what Sugar does to your dental health and how to avoid excessive consumption could help you avoid major oral healthcare issues.
If you have any questions, contact Totally Teeth today for a consultation.
