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Get the Facts About Sweets: Four Ways Sugar Can Harm Your Teeth

September 16, 2020

Get the Facts About Sweets: Four Ways Sugar Can Harm Your Teeth

Most people love to have a sugary treat, and here is nothing wrong with having one every once in a while. However, if you eat sugary sweets on a regular basis, it could be doing more harm to your teeth than you realize. Keep reading to find out more about how sugar affects your teeth. If you are worried that your teeth might have sustained damage, contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to make an appointment with a dental professional.

  1. Sugar Encourages Plaque Build-Up
  2. There are a lot of carbs in sugar. Specifically, there are many of the carbs in sugar that eventually form into bacteria on your teeth. This bacteria, if not handled, will turn into plaque. That plaque then turns into tartar, and that can only be removed by your dentist. Brushing and flossing regularly is a good way to avoid plaque, but you will have the most success if it is used in conjunction with keeping sugar consumption to a minimum.

  3. Sugar Encourages Tooth Decay
  4. When tartar and plaque build up, decay begins. The bacteria these substances create will eat the enamel of your teeth, which wears it down significantly. This can happy to anyone – even a child who has just had their first tooth come in. This is why it is so important to start teaching children proper brushing and flossing techniques from an early age.

  5. Sugar Can Lead to Cavities
  6. We have been over how too much tartar can lead to plaque buildup, which can lead to tooth decay. Now consider that tooth decay, left unchecked can lead to cavities. If your child gets a cavity, it is likely due to how much sugar they are eating. Yes, helping them brush after eating sweets can be helpful, but it is also wise to cut down on their sugar consumption overall.

  7. Sugar Can Encourage Gum Disease
  8. In addition to plaque and tartar, too much sugar can cause gum disease. If this happens, you might notice that your gums are puffy, irritated, and swollen. They might also bleed when brushing them or flossing them. Sugar is a serious culprit in plaque, and plaque can aggravate the gums to cause gum disease. As a result, it is one more reason to avoid sugar.

Talk to Your Dentist if You Are Concerned About Sugar Intake

Does any of this mean that you should never eat anything with sugar? Hardly – but it does mean you should be aware of how much you are eating and the effect it is having. If you are concerned about how much you are eating, or are not sure what the right limit is, contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to make an appointment with a dental professional.

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