General Dentistry: Should Sugar Be Avoided?

General Dentistry: Should Sugar Be Avoided? from Santa Monica LiveWell Dentistry in Santa Monica, CAWith all the information circulating about sugar, you may wonder if avoiding sweet treats entirely benefits your oral health. As any general dentistry office will likely tell you, cutting sugar from your diet can have a significant positive impact on your teeth and gums.

How does sugar cause dental problems?

Your mouth is full of bacteria. This is not an entirely negative thing. In fact, you need good bacteria in your mouth to break down food and help destroy bad bacteria.

Speaking of harmful bacteria, though, there is something to know about these germs: They feed on sugar. So when you eat something with sugar, the bad germs flock to it and create acids with it — acids that can erode your tooth enamel.

Further, it does not stop there. Weakened or eroded tooth enamel can make your teeth more susceptible to cavities and decay, which can further result in infection and gum disease.

Of course, this is more of an issue when you leave sugar sitting on your teeth. If you follow certain tips and good dental hygiene, you can typically have a sugary treat now and then without the situation in your mouth getting out of hand.

Tips for maintaining good oral health

If you want to indulge in sweets every now and then, you need to learn how to do so in such a way that does not harm your tooth enamel. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

1. Brush after eating

If you brush and floss twice a day, you are on the right track. However, be sure to consider that mid-morning muffin or late-afternoon snack. If you are only brushing twice a day, sugar may sit in your mouth for hours. If you are in a place where you can brush, floss, or do a swish of mouthwash, do so! Otherwise, consider at least washing your food down with water or a cup of green tea, which may have antimicrobial properties, according to a 2016 article on nature.com.

2. Drink water with fluoride

Fluoride is a natural cavity-fighter. While you can get fluoride treatments during a general dentistry appointment, it is also found in drinking water. It cannot completely counteract sugar consumption, but this mineral can help restore enamel, thereby protecting teeth from cavities.

3. Limit sugar

There is no getting around it: Cutting back on sugar does help to protect your teeth. That does not mean you need to avoid it completely, but try to limit your consumption or at least be more mindful of how and when you are eating it. In many cases, you can replace foods that contain added sugar with less sweet, more natural replacements and not miss out on taste. Less sugar to feed on often means bacteria cannot do as much damage to your enamel.

4. See your general dentist regularly

Keep up with your twice-yearly checkups and cleanings. Your dentist will clean and polish your teeth and address cavities quickly, so infection does not spread in your mouth and your gums stay healthy.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: General Dentistry in Santa Monica, CA

Conclusion

Sugar is one of the main culprits causing cavities and tooth decay, especially in children. Cutting back on sweets and seeing your general dentistry practice regularly can help you have a healthier mouth.

Request an appointment or call Santa Monica LiveWell Dentistry at 310-828-2440 for an appointment in our Santa Monica office.

Related Posts

How General Dentistry Can Treat A Loose Tooth

Loose teeth as a child can be exciting, but loose teeth as an adult are often worrisome and frustrating. Fortunately, general dentistry has ways to repair and care for them. If you have a loose permanent tooth, see your dentist right away to determine why it is loose and develop a plan to treat it.To…

How General Dentistry Can Improve Your Oral Health

There are many benefits to maintaining good oral health, such as reducing your risk of developing general dentistry issues like tooth decay and gum disease. Good oral health also lowers your risk of other illnesses, including diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Fortunately, you can take the initiative to maintain and improve your oral health.There…

How A General Dentistry Treats Cavities

General dentistry is where practitioners provide various treatments for tooth decay, trauma, crowding, gum disease, and other oral conditions. According to the CDC, over 90% of people have at least one cavity. Tooth decay is one of the most common problems general dentists treat.General dentists offer various treatments for a wide array of conditions, including…