Most people are told from a young age that certain foods are bad for their teeth, that filling their diet with soda and sweets are with eventually give you cavities. This is often said automatically, almost dismissively by parents trying desperately to get their kids to sort out their diet.
However, simply being told to never eat sugar isn’t very helpful in trying to build a well rounded diet. It also isn’t really the complete truth about sweets, which is substantially more complicated.
In the interest of helping people understand more about their oral health, here’s what you should know about how sugar can actually affect your oral health.
How Does Sugar Harm Your Teeth?
You’re probably aware that sugar can do some serious damage to your teeth if you aren’t careful. However, you may not know why that is. It comes down to bacteria in the mouth; these colonies feed on sugar and secrete acids, which can erode the enamel over time. The more sugar you eat, the the more of these acids that will be produced and the worse your cavities will get.
So Should I Avoid All Sugar?
Processed sugars, like those found in candy or other synthetic sweets, don’t do much for you in terms of nutrition. They’re also terrible for your teeth, meaning that it’s usually just fine to cut them from your diet entirely. However, there are sweets that contain important vitamins and minerals, like fruits. These are still troublesome for you enamel if consumed in excess, but are typically okay in moderation.
Then there are sugars that aren’t actually so bad for the teeth. Xylitol, for example, is a sugar alcohol that tastes wonderfully sweet. It’s popular in gum, though recently Xylitol candies have become fairly popular as well. This sugar doesn’t nourish bacteria in the same way as others, meaning that it’s usually perfectly fine for your teeth.
About the Author
Dr. Sikander Singh understands that every patient he sees is unique. This informs his approach as a dentist, motivating him to get to know every one of them as individuals before providing them with completely customized treatment. Dr. Singh received his dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. In the interest of continuing his education, he is a member of American Dental Association, the Pennsylvania Dental Association, and the York County Dental Society.
If you have any questions about how to craft a tooth-healthy diet, she can be reached at her website or by phone at (717) 755-4143.
