Plaque, a sticky film of germs, constantly forms on the surface of your teeth. When you consume sugary foods or drinks, the germs in plaque will produce acids. These acids will attack your tooth enamel. The stickiness of plaque keeps these acids in close contact with your teeth, ultimately destroying your tooth enamel. This is when cavities can form. If plaque stays on your teeth, it hardens into tartar, which can cause a mild form of gum problems.
When sugars are added to foods to sweeten them, they add calories but don’t add any nutritional value. These are known as added sugars, unlike the naturally occurring sugars that exist in fruits and milk. Foods like sweets, cookies, cakes, and muffins not only offer no nutritional value, the high amount of sugar they contain can adhere to your teeth, resulting in tooth decay. Sugar-containing drinks, including sodas, juice, sweetened coffee, or tea, are also very harmful as they provide a constant sugar bath for your teeth.
You might wonder if all types of added sugars cause tooth decay. For instance, you might be curious if dextrose (a type of sugar that comes from corn) is bad for your teeth. The answer is yes. While the refined sugar found in sweets or sweetened cereals is typically the most harmful, all added sugars can create plaque and cause tooth decay. This is especially the case when they’re consumed in excess.
Sugar can be hard to avoid, but paying close attention to what foods you’re buying and eating can help you steer clear of tooth decay. Avoid added sugars and enjoy some raspberries for dessert, instead. And of course, maintaining good oral hygiene will leave you with a healthy mouth for many years to come.
ORAL HEALTH QUIZ
Take our Oral Health assessment to get the most from your oral care routine
ORAL HEALTH QUIZ
Take our Oral Health assessment to get the most from your oral care routine