The culprit causing Tooth Decay is not sugar itself but the acid created by bacteria who feed on the sugar and other carbohydrates like sugar.
Though we were warned about too much sugar since childhood, we never really understood why we’ve been told not to eat too many sweets. Our parents told us to avoid sweets but we never really knew for a fact how it is related to Dental Care.
Ask any well read dental care professional and he will tell you that sugar and other sticky carbohydrates, like sugar coated cereals and snack foods, are the starting point of Tooth Decay. In fact even wholesome food such as bread and raisins stand on equal footing with sugar in relation to decay of your Teeth. The problem isn’t just about too much sugar, but rather, that the sugar and refined carbohydrates are the starting point for the streptococcus bacteria inside the mouth which loves to feed on carbohydrates. These bacteria live on a biofilm called plaque and they produce acids. The acids eat away at the calcium/phosphate crystal of the enamel, which is the outer layer of teeth. Saliva can only partially neutralize the acid. If the acid stays on the enamel just 20 minutes, the teeth demineralization process begins, and rot sets in.
In a study conducted by the New York University Dental School it was found that cooked starches such as potato chips and French fries cling on the teeth much longer than sugary foods such as plain chocolate bars. This means that they have greater potential of Causing Tooth Decay because of the longer period of acid production by the bacteria. Remember that it is not the sugar itself that destroys teeth, but the acid produced by bacteria eating on the carbohydrates stuck to our teeth. Sugar is only one among many sources of carbohydrates that come from our diet. Several studies have also shown that tooth decay is related to the frequency of eating; not just the amount of sugar or starch consumed. Frequent snacking harms the teeth because it reintroduces food particles which feed the bacteria.
What does help is if you brush your teeth immediately. Take extra care not to feed the streptococcus bacteria that live on the plaque on your teeth by brushing your teeth regularly, and if you are at a restaurant and eat something sweet, rinse with a mouthful of water immediately to dilute the sugar or carbohydrate. Brush daily and use a fluoride toothpaste. Make sure your dentist regularly removes plaque and tartar (calculus) that accumulates on your teeth over time. This way you can attack the problem of tooth decay and gum disease at its very source.
According to medical studies, people who consume 800mg of calcium daily have a lower chance of developing cavities, but if you have a high sugar and carbohydrate diet, then you will still get decay. Calcium-rich food includes milk, cheese and yoghurt. Good nutrition certainly will help build stronger teeth and gums, especially when a woman is pregnant, and the baby’s teeth are forming. Whoever thought that family dental care was as easy as getting proper nutrition? By eating a healthy, balanced diet, and brushing and flossing correctly, you can help yourself avoid emergency dental care and ultimately you may save on expensive dental care cost!
Knowing this, we now have a greater understanding of tooth decay and how we can prevent it. Regular brushing and flossing are still the most effective ways for dental care. They clear away food residue and more importantly, the plaque that harbour bacteria. Thus the mechanical disruption and removal of the bacteria starve the bacteria and keep their growth in check. The faster the bacterial plaque and food debris is removed from your mouth, the less chance it will feed the bacteria and cause tooth decay.
