How Sugar Causes Cavities and Destroys Your Teeth

There is a common saying that says sugar rots your teeth. Yet even with this common knowledge in hand, many people believe that with the proper dental care or regular dental visits, the saying does not actually apply to them. These people are sadly mistaken.

Sugar is definitely one of the culprits behind cavities and wrecking your teeth. This is how.

History

It took literally centuries for the understanding that sugar caused cavities to become common knowledge. Aristotle observed the negative impact that sugar has on people’s teeth, but even thousands of years ago, no one thought it was true.

As science and information has improved throughout the years and with the advancements of technology, we can actually see how cavities are formed and take the right steps to preventing them.

Minerals Under Attack

The trouble with sugar and other carbohydrates comes down to what they do to the makeup of your mouth rather than what they are directly doing to your teeth. Your mouth is naturally full of a variety of bacteria, some of which is harmful, but not all of it.

When some bacteria within your mouth run into carbohydrates, the bacteria release an acid. The acid then actually takes away the minerals within your tooth enamel, leaving it weak and prone to getting caries. The demineralization of your enamel can happen when you eat not just sugar, but potato chips, and even raisins.

Saliva

Saliva is your mouth’s natural housekeeper. It washes your teeth and by keeping your mouth moist, keeps bacteria from sticking to your enamel. This is why people who suffer from dry mouth are at a bigger risk of developing cavities than those without.

Calcium and phosphate are both found within your saliva. These essential minerals will combat the bacteria that are attacking your tooth enamel, warding off the decay. Combined with the fluoride you get from your toothpaste, you can remineralize your teeth while the bacteria are fighting to demineralize your teeth.

Unfortunately, when the bacteria attacks happen repeatedly, there is ultimately damage caused along the enamel that cannot be fixed with your saliva alone. Once this happens, your tooth will form a cavity.

Controlling Your Diet

The best thing that you can do outside of having great dental homecare is to control your sugar intake. Sugar is not just harmful to your teeth, but can be harmful to your entire body. Think about what you are eating before you eat it. This means cutting down on sugar or carbohydrate-heavy snacks.

The frequency that sugar is consumed can also put your teeth at greater risk. If you are a frequent sugary snacker, for example, your enamel will be at a greater risk for developing a cavity than someone who does not.

Another change that you can make has to do with what you drink. Energy drinks, sodas, and juices are all harmful to the enamel of your teeth, leading to tooth decay as well as recession. You should even watch out for sports drinks as they often have hidden ingredients of sugar, disguised as helpful electrolytes.

Simply being aware of what you are taking in can make a huge impact on your oral health. You should also make sure to brush twice a day, with the most important being right before bed. Combined with your regular dental visits, you can expect to keep decay away.