22 May What Impact Does Sugar Have On Our Teeth?

As we all know, excessive quantities of sugar promote plaque bacteria on your teeth which then attacks the enamel surfaces.

Enough acid is produced to last for about 20 minutes and is this initial acid attack that removes a thin layer of enamel, this is the first stage of dental caries.

Carbohydrates (natural sugars and starches from fruit and veg, and artificial sugars from processed foods) can be turned into acid by bacteria and thereby cause caries, the most acid producing is those which are artificially added during food preparation, and which tend to be based on non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMEs).

The most damaging of all the refined sugars are sucrose and glucose (dextrose). Some foods that contain added sugar and can cause caries are:

• Cakes, biscuits, jam, chocolate and sweets
• Breakfast cereals
• Pastry, desserts, canned fruit, soups, syrups and ice cream
• Soft drinks
• Hot beverages sweetened with sugar
• Fruit juices (even fruit itself)
• Sauces
• Low fat products.

With our modern diet, added sugar is consumed nearly every time we eat something, and our teeth are attacked by acid on each of these occasions. If snacks and drinks containing a lot of sugar are frequently eaten or drunk between meals, this will increase the number of acid attacks on our teeth.

The prime cause of caries is the frequent consumption of sweet snacks between meals, not the amount of sugar eaten!

Therefore to help limit the chances of developing caries you will need to:

• Drink water to rinse out your mouth, after eating something sweet or drinking something acidic
• Brush twice a day
• Floss regularly
• Visit us, Thackeray Dental Care for your regular exams and cleaning appointments!

To book an appointment, contact us at your dentist in Mansfield on 01623 629359.