Most of us have been told from a very early age that too much sugar is bad for your teeth. But you may not know why that’s so and how exactly sugar affects your oral health. Whether you need to find a better way to convince yourself to stay away from the dessert tray, or a more effective explanation for your kids about why they shouldn’t eat too many sweets, what follows is an explanation of why sugar is bad for the health of your teeth and gums.
In order to enjoy good oral health, we all need the right level of acidity inside of our mouths. Even our own saliva is acidic and helps to ensure that we maintain a certain pH level inside the mouth. A good pH level promotes healthy teeth and gums. When you eat sugar, it mixes with your saliva and lowers the pH levels inside your mouth. That, in turn, increases acidity, which makes it easier for harmful bacteria to grow. This bad bacteria is what leads to tooth decay and gum disease.
While too much of any type of sugar is bad for your teeth and gums, the extent of the damage does differ to a certain extent depending on the type of sugar you ingest. Sugar that is in a non-liquid form – such as sugar in baked goods and candy, for example – is usually the worst for your oral health. That’s because these types of foods leave more residue on your teeth that can’t be washed away naturally with your own saliva. The longer that residue remains on your teeth, the higher the risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease.
Sugary drinks aren’t much better. When you consume drinks like fruit juices and sodas, the liquid is dispersed throughout your entire mouth, usually reaching every tooth surface, not to mention your gums. After that, bad bacteria begins to form very quickly. And simply brushing twice a day is not enough to remove the sugar left behind by sweet drinks.
The obvious answer to avoiding these issues is to limit the amount of sugar in your diet. Instead of indulging in candy or baked goods, try eating fruit instead. Whole fruit tastes sweet and does not promote tooth decay or gum disease. Instead of sugary drinks, drink water, milk or low-sugar vegetable juice instead. If you want to choose a snack that’s actually good for your oral health, try cheese! Not only does it contain tooth-strengthening calcium and phosphorous, it also stimulates the production of saliva. And saliva works to wash away food residue and keep your pH level in balance.
So the bad news is what we’ve known all along – too much sugar is bad for your teeth and gums. But the good news is that there are other drinks and snacks that can actually benefit your oral health. So enjoy!
