Saskatoon Dental Group is a locally owned, full-scale Saskatoon dental clinic offering general dentistry services. At Saskatoon Dental Group, we are dedicated to offering excellent care to our amazing patients who are like family to us. We are grateful to treat whole families in Saskatoon across multiple generations, and have a multicultural team speaking multiple languages. In our latest dental tip, we discuss how sugar affects your teeth and ways to fight tooth decay.

Is Sugar The Enemy In Dentistry?

Sugar is not healthy for the teeth. However, tooth decay can be mitigated. Below we examine how sugar affects your teeth, and ways to fight tooth decay.

Sugar Weakens Tooth Enamel

The mouth is full of various types of bacteria. Many of these bacteria harm oral health. Whenever harmful bacteria encounter sugar, they create acids. These acids form an infection that damages tooth enamel. This process is called demineralization. Luckily, the mouth reverses this damage through the process of remineralization. During remineralization, minerals in saliva such as phosphate and calcium repair the teeth. Although the natural process of remineralization helps fight tooth decay, ingesting too much sugar destroys enamel over time.

Sugar Attracts Bad Bacteria

There are two types of bad bacteria found in the mouth. Namely, these bacteria are Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. These bacteria feed on sugar. The presence of these bacteria cause plaque to form on the surfaces of the teeth. If plaque is not eliminated the mouth becomes acidic. Overall, ingesting sugar in high quantities attracts bad bacteria and destroys enamel.

Sugar Consumption Is Linked To Tooth Decay

Ingesting foods that are high in sugar increases the exposure of the teeth to the acids that cause tooth decay. Even snacks marketed as healthy options contain large quantities of sugar. It is important to be mindful of how much sugar is consumed. Sugar consumption awareness is a precaution that prevents tooth decay.

Tips To Fight Tooth Decay

Watch What You Eat and Drink

  • Eat a balanced diet filled with fruits and vegetables. Eat sugary foods with meals rather than in between. This allows saliva to wash away the sugars. 
  • Always enjoy soft drinks and sugary snacks in moderation.
    Practice Good Oral Hygiene
  • Always brush twice a day. Ideally after every meal, and definitely before bed at night. 
  • Brush as soon as possible after sugar consumption. If sugar sits on teeth, it exposes them to acidic conditions. Acidic conditions cause cavities.
  • Visit the dentist regularly for a routine check-up and cleaning every six months to keep teeth strong and healthy. 

Sugary foods should always be consumed in moderation. Ultimately, a consistent oral hygiene routine and eating a healthy, balanced diet are the best ways to combat tooth decay. 

Remember that good oral health habits start at home and we encourage you to visit us once a year for a full checkup and examination. Oral health is closely tied to your overall health and wellness and often we can identify issues before they become problems.

We are always welcoming patients looking for a new dental family. If you would like to book a checkup or if you have any dental questions please do not hesitate to reach out to our team.

See you soon!

The Saskatoon Dental Group Team

 

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