The Teeth Whitening Facts That Everyone Should Know
Did you know that Canadians consumed about 58.5 grams per day in 2017? Yes, that’s true! According to the World Health Organisation Sugars Guidelines, you need to reduce free sugars to less than 10% of daily energy intake, based on evidence related to dental caries.
From peanut butter to marinara sauce, added sugar can be found in even the most unexpected products. Many people quickly rely on ready-to-eat and processed food for meals and snacks as they are available to eat quickly. These food items also include high amounts of sugars. Although sugar may seem harmless, it can have far-reaching health implications, especially for teeth. But how can sugar be harmful to your teeth? We, College Plaza Dental Care, have provided you with an ‘educational blog’ to answer this question.
Sugar Attracts Bad Bacteria
Sugar is like a magnet to bad bacteria. The two destructive bacteria found in the mouth are Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. Both of them feed on sugar you eat and form dental plaque. If the plaque is not washed away by saliva or brushing, the mouth forms more acid and cavities may form.
Sugar Lowers Your Mouth’s pH
Did you know the bacteria-growth in your mouth regulates the level of acidity? Adding too much sugar in your diet will directly impact your oral health. Harmful bacteria thrive on sugar and release acids in your mouth that remove minerals from the tooth enamel. Sugar reduces your mouth’s pH due to excess acid. The pH scale measure how acidic your mouth with seven being neutral. When the pH level drops below normal or less than 5.5, excess acids dissolve minerals and destroy the tooth enamel. Thus, leading to more cavity and resulting in tooth decay. The good news is that your saliva, in addition to fluoride from toothpaste and water, helps to repair the enamel by replacing the minerals lost during the ‘acid attack.’ Saliva contains minerals like calcium and phosphate that are known for re-mineralizing.
Sugar Leads to Gum Disease
Sugar can lead to gum disease. Once the gum disease starts (gingivitis), it may advance into periodontitis if you leave it untreated. Periodontitis can affect not only the tooth but the gums beneath as well. The bacteria associated with periodontitis can travel throughout the body. It can invade joints, connective tissues, and organs such as kidneys, liver, and lungs. These bacteria can also lead to coronary artery disease. We, at College Plaza Dental Care, suggest you visit and consult our dentist to detect any possible gum disease to prevent them in time.
Constant vigilance is the key to prevent the adverse effects of sugar on your teeth. It is essential to limit the sugar intake, brush away bacteria-filled plaque regularly, and consume healthy foods. College Plaza Dental Care suggests you add regular dental visits and fluoride treatments at the dental clinic to your to-do list to win the battle against tooth decay.
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