Bad news for your teeth: sugar.
The average American consumes more sugar than everyone else in the world. (We’re also lucky to have access to top-notch dentists.) It’s a common saying that “sugar rots your teeth.” But might it really be the case? Why is sugar so unhealthy for your teeth, and what does it do to them? Considering how ubiquitously it is used in modern food production, you might be curious to find out more about this ingredient.
Sugar 101
Some plaque will form on your teeth after eating any food. Bits of food remain in your mouth after you’ve finished eating and drinking. Sugar is the single worst offender when it comes to tooth decay.
Milk, bread, and fruits and vegetables all include some natural sugar, but they also have essential vitamins and minerals. When consumed in appropriate quantities, the natural sugars in your teeth provide no metabolic challenge to your body.
When sugar content of food outweighs its nutritional value, issues arise. Excessive sugar consumption creates germs and decay in the mouth, but without sufficient nourishment, your body may not be able to fight it off.
The deceptive nature of sugar makes it ubiquitous. For a rough approximation of your daily sugar intake, reading the labels on common supermarket items is a good place to start.
Although by no means exhaustive, here are a few sneaky places you could find sugar under a different, more deceptive name:
Instead of using sugar, they use high-fructose corn syrup.
- Sucrose
- Malted barley
- Dextrose
- Maltose
- Corn syrup
Sugar intake above 9.5 tablespoons per day is discouraged by the American Heart Association. However, in America, adults take 22 teaspoons daily, and kids consume 32 teaspoons.
Plaque
Why does sugar cause tooth decay? Plaque accumulation and tooth decay result from this.
Some bacteria in your mouth are completely healthy and even beneficial. However, nasty bacteria love sugar and use it to make plaque, which then wears down teeth. Imagine how the wind gradually removes a sand dune until there is nothing except the wind and the sand. This is the effect that plaque has on teeth. It triggers an acidic response that breaks down the protective layer of enamel on your teeth.
If you snack often throughout the day, you’re exposing your teeth to a constant barrage of food particles, germs, and plaque. Sugary drinks are particularly damaging because they seep into the crevices and nooks of your mouth, where you can’t brush or floss. The annual soft drink intake of the typical American is 53 gallons. Do you get where I’m going with this?
Decay
A cavity is a hole in a tooth caused by the destruction of enamel by plaque. Plaque and germs are able to penetrate further into the tooth thanks to the opening. Tooth rot describes this condition. Enamel, the tooth’s outermost covering, serves to shield the dentin and pulp underneath it from damage. The nerve and blood supply to each tooth are what protect it from dying. A tooth may die and fall out if decay spreads to its inner layers. And it can happen far faster than you think.
Follow-Up Actions
Many adults also have trouble with tooth decay, which is the most frequent chronic condition in children. The good news is that cavities may be avoided with careful attention to one’s diet and routine dental care. If you’re concerned about the effects of sugar on your teeth, follow these guidelines.
- Don’t graze all day long
- Don’t drink anything sweet.
- Indulge your sweet tooth moderately.
- Fluoride toothpaste should be used.
- Sweet flavors may be had without resorting to sugar by eating natural licorice and cinnamon.
- The health risks of sugar substitutes (those cute little yellow, blue, and pink packages) should not be underestimated.
- You should floss once a day and brush your teeth twice a day.
