31 Oct Candy And How It Can Affect Your Teeth

Candy and How it can Affect Your Teeth?

Perhaps, it’s a known fact that excessive consumption of sugar leads to tooth decay. However, it is difficult to resist cakes, ice-creams, and other desserts when you have a sweet tooth. While many believe that sugar is the main “culprit,” it is only half-the-truth. Your mouth is a battle-ground where a constant fight is going on; tooth decay is, actually, the effect of these battles. Let’s find out what happens after you eat that chocolate mousse?

Development of Cavities

Your mouth is a habitat of different types of bacteria; both harmful and beneficial. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NICDR), the healthy bacteria maintain the oral ecosystem. Bad bacteria, on the other hand, destroy your tooth enamel –the shiny layer that protects your teeth.

The harmful oral bacteria live on the sugary food you consume and produce acids. These acids lead to bacterial infection, which eventually cause cavities, i.e., hole in your tooth. If not treated, cavities can pass the enamel into the deeper tooth layers, thereby causing severe pain and tooth loss.

Mouth: A Battlefield for Bacteria

When bad oral bacteria encounter sugar, it produces acid in the mouth. The acid attacks lead to demineralization, i.e., the removal of minerals from your tooth enamel. This is where your saliva comes in; it has a key role in this battle.

Saliva contains minerals, like calcium and phosphate, which help repair the tooth enamel. Also, using fluoride toothpaste and fluoridated water help in reversing the damage caused by the acid attack. The process called mineralization helps replace the lost minerals.

However, the constant acid attacks can weaken and destroy the enamel. Re-mineralization only controls the sugar damage caused by candies and starches consumption. For a permanent solution, you will have to revisit your dietary habits and limit your sugar intake.

Food that Causes Teeth Damage

What you eat matters; it does affect not only your oral health but also overall well-being. Certain foods can damage your teeth to the extent that you may lose your teeth.

• When you expose your teeth to sugary snacks, they produce acids more frequently. High sugar intake leads to tooth decay.
• Sugar in liquid form is as harmful as sugary foods. Carbonated drinks, energy drinks, and juices, all have high acidic levels.
• Starchy and sugary foods, such as lollipops, candies, and breath mints, also cause tooth decay.
• Sipping sugar-sweetened beverages frequently also puts you at the risk of tooth decay and cavities.

The Way Out

• First of all, limit your sugar intake.
• Saliva helps reverse demineralization; Use sugar-free chewing gums to encourage saliva production.
• You may also use OTC artificial saliva products for mimicking the real saliva.
• Crunching fibrous fruits and vegetables is also an effective way to salivate.
• For maintaining the oral ecosystem, add green and black tea in your diet; both are effective in suppressing harmful bacteria.
• Use dairy products and phosphate-enriched food instead of starches and sugary snacks.
• Make sure that your toothpaste and mouthwash contain fluoride to strengthen your teeth and reverse demineralization.

While all these tips help prevent tooth decay, regular dental visits should not be overlooked. For proper dental care and good oral hygiene, visit your dentist every six months.