Did you know that according to the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), there is a direct link between tooth decay and consumption of sugar? Excessive sugar consumption can also lead to tooth abscesses, which means that the affected tooth will have to be extracted.
Tooth decay is a common concern among growing adults. It affects the way they look, how they feel about smiling, and their mental health to a certain extent. This is because our teeth make up a chunk of our appearance. So naturally, when they go bad, it affects our self-esteem. Plus, the attached to the growth of tooth decay are no joke either.
So how can you prevent your teeth from decaying? By cutting down on sugar. Sugar has a huge impact on your overall dental hygiene. Not only is excessive sugar bad for your teeth, but it has several harmful implications on your overall physical health as well.
What Sugar Does To Your Teeth
According to Colgate, sugar and carbohydrates that contain starch are extremely bad for your oral health. They can cause a myriad of problems like bacterial infections, tooth decay, cavities, etc. The mouth is full of bacteria. Some of those bacteria are beneficial, while others can cause serious health concerns.
Let’s look at bacterial infections. The important thing to note about bacterial infections here is that they work relentlessly to damage the outer layer of your teeth. This shiny outer layer is also known as enamel. If these infections are left untreated, they will most certainly lead to cavities.
Cavities can sink into the layers underneath the enamel, causing hotels in your teeth. This can lead to a lot of discomfort and pain. Plus, they can also cause tooth loss.
What Sugar Does To Your Mouth
Healthline describes sugar as a “magnet for bad bacteria.” There are two types of bad bacteria present in the mouth. They are:
- Streptococcus mutans
- Streptococcus sorbrinus
The aforementioned bacteria are infamous for using sugar to create dental plaque. Dental plaques can be described as a drab film developed on the enamel. If this doesn’t wash away, the mouth’s pH level gets disturbed. It should be 7, but with dental plaque, the inside of the mouth becomes way more acidic than it should be. If the pH level drops below 5.5, it will kill the enamel.
Things to do to Avoid Tooth Decay
Well, the first answer here is to avoid all sugar. However, there are several other measures you can take to prevent tooth decay from shattering your teeth entirely. Let’s have a look at some preventive measures you can take to dodge tooth decay.
- Avoid foods that contain a lot of starch.
- Avoid sugar-infused drinks like soft drinks, energy drinks, juices, etc. Did you know that according to a study in Finland, consuming more than one or two sweetened beverages puts you at a relatively higher risk for cavities? So make sure that you avoid such drinks altogether.
- Brush your teeth twice a day. Ensure that your toothpaste contains fluoride because it helps fight bad bacteria in the mouth.
- Start flossing your teeth.
- Set up an appointment with your dentist so they can better inform you of your overall dental hygiene and help you take care of it. Make sure that you follow their instructions verbatim.
- Drink a lot of water. Consume at least 8-10 glasses of water every day.
Now that you know about the harmful effects of sugar on your teeth, we hope that you can make the necessary changes in your lifestyle to avoid tooth decay. Not only will this help you have healthy teeth, but it will also give you a beautiful smile to go along with it.
