We all know sugar isn’t good for you teeth, but the question is, why is this so? Sugar is associated with tooth decay. This means that the bacteria on teeth that create plaque get their energy from sugar. Therefore the more sugar we intake, the more energy bacteria have to turn into plaque! Some bacteria even then use sugar to as glue, and therefore the bacteria sticks to your teeth. Saliva helps to wash away the bacteria from your teeth, but due to it being glued to your teeth it doesn’t come off as easily.
So why is the formation of plaque bad? This is because our teeth are covered in enamel. Enamel is what protects our teeth and keeps them strong. When plaque is formed on teeth it creates acid, and this acid is what breaks down the enamel on our teeth. This leaves us with less and less enamel, which eventually leads to holes or cavities in our teeth. The holes can get bigger, resulting in big cavities.
Now you’re probably thinking, oh no, do I have to give up cookies, cake, ice cream, and all my favorite sweets in order to avoid cavities? Well, the answer is, no, sugar does not have to be completely avoided (what a relief…), but yes, it does have to be monitored in order to maintain cavity free teeth.
Here is a couple of steps to ensure you can still enjoy some sugar in your life while keeping your teeth in good condition:
- Maintain regular dental check-ups. A toothbrush cannot always wash off all plaque. Dentists reach spots in our teeth to make sure all the plaque is gone.
- After eating sugar, make sure you brush your teeth to remove the sugar from your teeth. This should be done after eating sweets, as well as in the morning and night.
- Limit your sugar intake; for example, try your coffee without sugar in the morning for once!
- Floss your teeth to get any sugar that is stuck in between your teeth.
Now go on and enjoy your dessert tonight, but make sure your brush well!
If you have any painful cavities, whether minimal or severe, you should have a dentist examine them in order to prevent the cavities from getting worse and spreading to other teeth.
Book an appointment with one of our Ottawa dentists to check up your cavities and have them filled. Don’t wait until they get worse.
Also, even if you don’t think you have any cavities it wise to have a quick check up on your teeth in order to monitor the status of them and to prevent any cavities from occurring. Having a dentist perform a quick yet thorough cleaning easily does this.
Visit Florence Dentistry – The Downtown Ottawa Dentist for a free consultation.
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Want to learn more about dentistry? Check out last week’s post on Damon braces
