Sugar and Teeth: The Rotten Truth!

Every child has heard it many times, whether from a parent or a teacher or some other concerned adult. Don’t eat too much sugar; it will rot your teeth out. This advice is always particularly frustrating during Halloween, when sugar-loaded treats are so readily available.

But children grow up, and adults find that they are no longer obliged to heed childhood warnings. Suddenly, they can buy as much candy as they want, and the only thing stopping them from gorging on sweets is a concern for their overall health.

Good Oral Hygiene will fight tooth decay

So does the old warning hold true? We've all heard that sugar is bad for your teeth, but what does science say? Just exactly how bad is it? After all, there are many warnings that children are told that turn out to be myths or urban legends. Touching a toad will not actually give you warts, and a black cat crossing your path doesn't really cause bad luck.

The truth about sugar and your teeth

As it turns out, the science on tooth decay and the dangers of sugar is rock solid. However, it’s not actually the sugar itself that does the damage. Rather, it is a bacterium called streptococcus that likes to feed on sugar and then excrete acid onto teeth. This presence of this bacterium is what causes the oral health problem. The acid is what eats away at the structural integrity of tooth enamel, causing dental decay.

The longer sugar is allowed to stay on the teeth, the worse the damage, which is why it is so important to brush teeth after eating sweets. In fact, some dentists recommend during Halloween that kids eat a whole bunch of candy all at once and get it over with, rather than spacing it out over a long period of time. The longer the bacteria are there feeding on sugar, the longer the teeth are being exposed to danger.

People might wonder where this bacterium comes from. Is it possible to prevent it from entering the mouth in the first place? Unfortunately, for most people, bacteria reside naturally in the mouth. Genetically, some people have greater resistance to the acid they produce, and saliva helps to buffer against it. This means people with dry mouth or those who smoke tend to be at greater risk.

However, ultimately there is no substitute for good dental hygiene combined with a healthy diet. Cutting back on sugar is always a good idea and has many additional health benefits. Regular brushing and flossing, as well as professional routine cleanings, are essential for ensuring stronger, healthier teeth. There is no short cut.

So, as it turns out, the teachers and the parents were almost right. Sugar itself won’t rot your teeth out, but the sugar-loving bacteria definitely will.

Haddon Family Dentistry takes dental education seriously. Treating the whole family will help reinforce the efforts made at home by parents. Contact the office to schedule your and your child’s next routine appointment.