Sugar Has Bad Effects on the Health of Your Teeth

We all grew up hearing the old, “That sugar will rot your teeth right out of your mouth,” anecdote from our parents and elders. And it probably didn’t help that when we were six sugar made us way too hyper to deal with. But they’re weren’t lying – sugar really is bad for you, and in a lot of ways besides just your teeth. The crazy thing about food in the industrialized world is that nearly every single food product you buy has processed sugars of some kind in it. It’s unavoidable. But you should be mindful about eating fresh, unprocessed foods and limiting your sugar intake; there’s a countless list of health reasons why. But we’re a family dentistry practice, not a wellness center, so let’s focus on the main danger to your teeth consuming too much sugar poses: cavities.

Your mouth is full of bacteria. And bacteria feeds on sugars to grow and multiply. Sugar and bacteria combine powers to create acids that eat away the tooth’s enamel and eventually cause cavities. Cavities lead to tooth extractions, or worse, root canals. Not fun. Now, we can’t eliminate everything that feeds the bacteria in your mouth, because it includes all carbs and starches at some level. And your body knows that – it is constantly trying to repair enamel damaged by your diet. The issue with too much sugar is, though, that it will overcome your body’s remineralizing processes and cause permanent damage. So be kind to your body; it’s trying to help you. Help it out by eating healthy, brushing and flossing each day, and thinking twice before you eat that piece of cake.