Sugar’s not so sweet
18/02/2016 by Dental DesignWe all know sugar is a big no-no when it comes to dental health but how exactly does it go about doing all that damage to our teeth? In fact it’s not actually the sugar on its own that is so destructive, it’s the acid that is produced when bacteria and sugar come together that goes on to wreak all that havoc.
Acid mouth party
Your mouth is jam packed with bacteria that combines with food particles and saliva to form plaque. The bacteria in plaque turns sugary food and drinks into energy and produces harmful acid at the same time. If there is a build-up of plaque, the resulting acid can begin to break down the outer surface of your tooth and eventually enter and damage the inner part of the tooth. That’s why it is so important to keep your teeth clean as this can remove this regularly developing plaque.
Banish plaque
If plaque is not removed, it will start to soften the enamel by removing minerals from the tooth and if this goes on for any length of time, a small hole will develop. These are cavities and once formed in the enamel, the plaque and bacteria can sneak into the dentine, which is softer than the hard outer layer of the tooth and so the decay process speeds up.
If decay is not treated, it can enter the pulp which is when it all gets a bit painful because this pulp is packed full of nerves and blood vessels. Bacteria can also infect the pulp and cause an abscess.
As well as too much of the sweet stuff (and starchy foods too), there are a number of other factors that can increase your risk of tooth decay including:
Neglected teeth – go on keep ‘em clean and don’t forget to clean between your teeth with floss or an interdental brush. Try using mouth wash too to rinse away all that destructive debris.
Don’t puff your teeth away – think twice before you light up because as well as being a contributory factor for a whole host of diseases, smoking can also lead to gum disease. This is because smokers are more likely to produce bacterial plaque. Also a lack of oxygen in the blood can mean that infected gums don’t heal.
All dried out – as your mouth needs plenty of saliva to stay in tip top health, if you have a condition that leads to a dry mouth such as diabetes, blocked salivary glands or lupus, it can mean that you mouth isn’t kept sufficiently clean and harmful acids are not neutralised.
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