People tend to put a lot of thought into what they eat. It’s always a balance between eating the food you want versus eating the food you need. You know how it can affect your body and your weight, but do you know how food affects your teeth? You’ve heard that sugar can give you a cavity, but how does that actually work? Dr. Rick Cofer, your family dentist in Waco, breaks it down for you.
Sugar and Your Teeth
You’ve probably heard for years that sugar is bad for your teeth. Whenever you went to the dentist as a child, there were always a variety of posters of children with toothaches sitting next to piles of candy. This association with sugar and tooth decay was probably taught to you at a very early age, but why is sugar actually bad for you teeth? How does it create a cavity? Your body is full of naturally occurring bacteria. Some of it is essential to keep you healthy, as with the bacteria in your stomach. Your mouth is also full of naturally occurring bacteria. This bacteria feeds on the sugar that is left on your teeth from the food you eat. This creates plaque. You’ve probably heard of plaque as the reason you need to brush and floss every day. This is because plaque actually has an acidic quality. This is how it is able to break down your teeth. Tooth enamel is the strongest substance in the body, but even it can be worn down by this acidic plaque over a long period of time. This plaque can eventually harden and become tartar, making it even tougher to remove.
Tips for Dealing with Sugar
Of course, the best way to break up the plaque on your teeth from the sugar is consistent brushing and flossing. This gets the acid off of your teeth and helps to preserve them. You should brush at least twice a day for 2 minutes each time. The other part of the equation is to make sure to see your dentist in Waco at least twice a year. Professional cleanings are able to clean your teeth in areas that you simply can’t reach with brushing and flossing. It also enables your dentist to catch tooth decay early, assuring that they can save most of the tooth and that treatment will be less involved. Something else you can do every day is limit the intake of sugary drinks and snacks. You don’t need to give them up completely, but rather just have them in moderation.
Any Questions?
Want to know more about how sugar affects your teeth? Just give us a call today at Premier Family Dental. We’re more than happy to let you know how, as well as why, you should take care of your teeth.