For many people, having their daily sweet treat is a must–and it’s something to look forward to at the end of the day or to congratulate yourself on a day’s hard work. There are lots of sweet desserts and pastries that people love to enjoy, ranging from apple streudals, chocolate bars, licorice, gummy candies, and–of course–ice cream!
While there’s nothing wrong with eating sugary foods and drinks occasionally or in moderation, it’s important to know the damage that they can do to your teeth over time. In some instances, sugar can hurt your teeth and for a multitude of reasons, so it’s important to go over the risks of too much sugar, what it can do to your teeth, and why types of foods to swap it out with.
Let’s discuss why sugar might hurt your teeth, the risks of sugar and how it can affect your teeth, and other crucial information on how to protect your dental health!
Why Do Dentists Always Warn Against Consuming Too Much Sugar?
Sugar can have damaging effects on our teeth over time, so it’s important to know what it actually does to them!
Donuts, Snickers bars, and home-baked goodies can be a temptation because of the sweet goodness that they are packed with, but many dentists warn about the dangers of too much sugar. Dentists warn individuals to limit their sugar intake for a number of reasons, but more importantly because of what it can do to your teeth.
How Damaging is Sugar on Our Teeth?
Our teeth are sensitive and it’s important to take care of them–especially since we only have one set after our adult ones come in! The main reason why many dentists warn against consuming too much sugar is because it allows harmful oral bacteria to flourish and produce acids that can break down the enamel on your teeth. Once this has accumulated with the overconsumption of sweet foods and drinks, it can eventually lead to tooth decay and cause cavities.
All sugar can be considered bad, but in particular, sticky sugars can cause the most damage. Because the food that you’re consuming is sticky to the touch, it can latch onto your teeth and result in prolonged acid production in your mouth, which can lead to demineralization and cause holes to form in your teeth from the decay.
Types of Sticky Sugar to Avoid
Some common examples of sticky sugars can include both natural syrups and sweeteners along with processed sweets. Some of the most common forms of sticky sugars include the following:
- Honey
- Caramel
- Maple syrup
- Dried fruit
- Taffy
- Molasses
- Gummy candy
- Agave nectar
- Muscovado sugar
- Rice syrup
Factors That Increase the Damage on Your Teeth
While eating sugar in moderation won’t do too much to hurt your teeth, there are a few risk factors to take into consideration that can lead to an increased rate for damage.
Some ways that sugar can interfere with your dental and oral health can consist of:
- How often you snack on sugary foods or drinks, which can in return prolong acid in your mouth
- Ingesting more sticky sugars can release sugar slowly and allow bacteria the time to produce more acids
- Consuming more acidic sugars that can soften the enamel on your teeth leaving them more prone to damage.
Knowing Why Sugar Hurts Your Teeth and What it Could Mean
Sugar can be addicting and it’s in a ton of food and drinks we consume, but if your teeth are hurting, here’s what to know!
Sugary food and drink items can taste amazing, but there are many issues that can come from consuming them too much, and you’ll see the consequences in your teeth. While sugar is in many of the foods and drinks we ingest everyday, it can also lead to our teeth hurting and feeling overly sensitive–but why is this?
Know the Conditions That Cause Teeth to Hurt Because of Sugar
Everyone loves sugar because of all of the tasty and sweet treats that we can reward ourselves with, but it only seems to hurt our teeth in the end. There are many reasons why your teeth may be hurting every time you eat something that is high in sugar, and here are several factors as to what may be causing it:
- Prolonged acid build-up can erode tooth enamel and expose dentin causing sensitivity
- Severe tooth decay leading to cavities
- Stimulation to the nerves of the teeth that causes shooting pains due to sugar
- Receding gums can be more susceptible to sugar due to exposed roots
- Hypersensitivity of sensitive dentin causing pain regardless of healthy teeth
- Acidic food and drinks can cause enamel erosion and cavities
- Poor oral hygiene can allow more bacteria to form and increase the risk of enamel erosion and cavities
Have These Symptoms? See Your Dentist ASAP
There are many symptoms to also be aware of that can be a warning sign to contact your dentist before things spiral out of control. While the symptoms may be small at first, it’s important to get looked at ASAP to tackle an issue head on instead of letting it progressively get worse.
Some of the most common symptoms that people experience with their oral health due to having too much sugar in their diet include:
- Tooth sensitivity
- Toothaches
- Bad breath
- White spots on teeth
- Bleeding and/or swollen gums
How to Cut Down on Sugar and Protect Your Teeth
Doing the basics and cutting back on sugar are some of the easiest and best ways to keep your teeth looking spiffy!
Taking care of your teeth is extremely important and luckily we’re taught young of the essential ways to preserve them so they last and remain healthy. From having a simple oral hygiene routine that you religiously follow twice a day to eating better foods that don’t harm your teeth, there are many ways to keep your oral health in tip top shape while still enjoying sugar.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
One of the best ways to keep your teeth in good condition is to make sure you have a solid oral hygiene routine that you practice at least twice a day. This includes flossing daily–especially at night before you go to bed–and brushing your teeth twice a day to get rid of the harmful food particles and bacteria that build up throughout the day. Using a fluoride toothpaste can also help to strengthen tooth enamel and make it more resistant to acid attacks from eating sugar.
Also, adding in a fluoride mouthwash can help to neutralize any acids and even help to repair enamel from any damage that may have been caused by sugar. It is also crucial to rinse your mouth out with water after eating to wash away any sugar left on your teeth to prevent a bacteria and acid build-up.
Look at Your Diet and Limit Sugar Intake
The biggest cause of acid attacks that can harm your teeth is simply because of consuming too much sugar. By reducing how much sugar is in your diet–such as drinks or snacks between meals–it can help to prevent enamel erosion, tooth decay, and other dental issues. Supplementing the sugary drinks by drinking more water can be a healthier alternative, plus they do a much better job at keeping you hydrated too.
Some other simple alternatives to consider as well include tooth-friendly snacks, consisting of fruits, vegetables, cheese, yogurt, and nuts are a great option since they are low in sugar and can help to keep your enamel healthy and even strengthen it. Sugar-free gum can also be good to stimulate saliva production to eliminate harmful bacteria and acids in your mouth.
Cut Back on Sugar and Keep Your Teeth Healthy to Avoid Any Unnecessary Pain
We understand that it’s hard to completely limit yourself with what you eat everyday to keep your teeth in tip top shape, but there are many ways to do so. By limiting your sugar intake, having a proper oral hygiene routine, and even visiting your dentist every six months for a cleaning can go a long way for your dental health and keep your teeth shiny and strong.If you’re in the Washington, PA area and are interested in an in-person appointment that can provide a ton of insight into the status of your oral health––consider contacting Elizabeth L. Wakim—exceptional smiles start here!
Dr. Elizabeth Wakim, DDS, is the founder of Enhanced Wellness. She’s a compassionate and highly-regarded dentist with her own practice in Washington, Pennsylvania, known for providing modern, comprehensive dental care, botox and facial aesthetics with a focus on patient comfort and anxiety reduction, serving general, cosmetic, and pediatric dentistry needs.
