Sugar and healthy teeth
Does sugar rot your teeth?
In short, yes sugar damages your teeth. However, it’s not actually the sugar itself that is harmful to your teeth but rather what happens to your mouth when there is sugar present. Confused? Read on!
Sugar causes tooth decay because the bacteria in your mouth use the sugar from foods and drinks you consume to produce acids.
These acids are bad for your teeth because they dissolve and damage the teeth.
Specifically, they damage the enamel which is the protective layer on the outside of the tooth. The acids cause cavities, which are bacterial infections that create holes in your teeth.
If you don’t treat cavities, the holes can move past the enamel layer and penetrate deeper inside the tooth. This can cause pain and even lead to tooth loss. Ouch!
Lollies, cakes, biscuits, and sugar-sweetened beverages have high levels of sugar, and eating or drinking these can significantly contribute to tooth decay.
How much sugar is in the food we eat?
A lot more than what manufacturers would have you believe! From the list below of foods to avoid, you can see that even white bread and potato chips can be full of sugar.
At Rutherford Dental, we back the call to reduce false claims of “healthiness” from many of the usual products in our grocery baskets.
Many products claim ‘99% fat-free’, ‘100% goodness’, ‘gluten/lactose/dairy-free’ in an attempt to make their products seem healthier, yet they are still chock full of sugar.
Another trick is saying the sugar is ‘derived from fruit’ – it might be true but eating a lolly made from reduced apple juice is NOT the same as eating an apple.
To complicate things even more, sugar is not always called ‘sugar’ when you read the label. As shoppers, we can become confused when manufacturers use names for sugar such as:
- Dextrose
- Fructose
- Galactose
- Glucose
- Lactose
- Maltose
- Sucrose
Here is a list of at least 56 different names for sugar – 56!!!
Sugar is not the devil and we aren’t telling you to cut it out, we just want to remind you that sugary treats and drinks have a big impact on the health of your teeth.
Be aware of what is REALLY going into your shopping trolley and don’t wait till it’s too late – call now for your check-up or book online.
Here is a very interesting article on sugar and kids’ teeth. It’s worth a read.
What foods are bad for your teeth?
In general, foods that are very hard, sugary, sticky, or acidic are bad for your teeth. There is a wide range of foods that are bad for your teeth, but below are a few odd sugary ones that you might not have thought about.
- Citrus – while these fruits are packed full of vitamin C, it’s good to remember that they are also full of acid. Putting a slice of lemon in a hot drink, giving a baby orange juice in a sippy cup, or sipping on lemon water all day is like constantly giving your teeth an acid wash to feed the bacteria. It’s best to eat the whole fruit with a meal and rinse your mouth out with water afterward. Don’t brush your teeth directly after eating citrus because the acid weakens the enamel, which you can then damage with your toothbrush. Wait about 30 minutes before brushing.
- Dried fruit – these are often sticky and are full of natural fruit sugars. This is a bad combination as the sugars get stuck in the crevices of your teeth and cause cavities. Serve dried fruit with meals and brush your teeth afterwards. Be careful with sultanas which are often a toddler snack. Avoid drip-feeding dried fruits throughout the day.
- Soft drink – whether it is the sugar version or a diet/zero drink, they are both bad for your teeth because they are sugary and/or acidic. They also dry out your mouth so you have less saliva to wash away the acids. The dark coloured versions like Coke and Pepsi can also stain your teeth.
- Sour lollies – these little treats are acidic, sugary, and sticky so they linger on your teeth. If you’re craving something sweet, have a small piece of chocolate instead. Eat it with a meal and rinse our mouth afterwards.
- White bread – who would have thought? The bread is easily broken down in your mouth and the starch becomes sugar. The bread can stick in between your teeth after your meal and cause cavities. Rather have a whole grain bread variety – these have less sugar in them and don’t break down into sugar as easily.
- Potato chips – like white bread above you wouldn’t really think of potato chips as sugary and bad for your teeth. However, when you chew the chips the starch converts into sugar and can get stuck in between your teeth. It’s best to eat your portion in one go and then rinse your mouth out.
What foods are good for your teeth?
Want to know what foods you can eat to keep your teeth healthy? Here are a few tips from DHSV.
- Avoid soft drinks, juice or cordial and drink fluoridated tap water and plain milk instead.
- Reduce the number of times you eat sweet foods (i.e. snacking), and rather eat or drink them with your meals.
- Reduce the number of sweet drinks you have, including fruit juices which contain natural sugars that can damage your teeth.
- Enjoy healthy snacks such as fresh fruit, vegetable sticks, natural yoghurt, plain popcorn, soups or cheese.
- Choose fresh fruit instead of dried fruit, as dried fruit will leave a sticky residue on your teeth and can damage your teeth.
- Reduce the sugar your add to cups of tea and coffee.
- Have some cheese or milk after consuming sweet or acidic food as dairy products can protect your teeth from the acid that causes cavities.
How can you protect your teeth?
There are a few strategies mentioned above including
- rinsing your mouth after eating acidic foods;
- eating a dairy product after a sugary food to counteract the acid;
- brushing your teeth after eating sticky foods (but 30 minutes after eating acidic foods);
- reducing snacking on sugary foods or drinks; and
- chewing some sugar-free gum to reduce cavity-causing bacteria.
Of course, it is still essential that you brush twice daily and floss once a day (preferably before bed).
However, the most important step to protecting your teeth is to come in for your 6-monthly check-ups. We can look for any holes that may be appearing in your teeth and take action before they become cavities.
Here is a great article from the Australian Dental Association about how sugar impacts your teeth – it’s worth read!
Call us on 02 4932 8366 to book, or book online.
Remember, we’re your dentist Rutherford!
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