Is Sugar The Root Cause Of Tooth Decay?

The real enemy of our teeth is streptococcus bacteria that feeds of sugar and carbohydrates. Is sugar the real enemy of our teeth? It is high time to answer this question. Since we were young, our parents cautioned us to avoid eating too many sweets. We usually follow blindly even without sufficient knowledge and understanding.

Though we were warned about too much sugar since childhood, we never really understood why we've been told not to eat too many sweets. Our parents told us to avoid sweets but we never really knew for a fact how it is related to dental care.

Cooked starches like chips and fries are harder to remove in the mouth as they cling more than food with high sugar levels like chocolates; this is the outcome of one study by New York University Dental Care. Food that can stay longer in the mouth gives the bacteria more time to secrete acid and more time to eat, increasing the risk of tooth decay greatly. Many researches and studies have also shown that people who eat more often run greater risks of tooth decay.

In a study conducted by the New York University Dental School it was found that cooked starches such as potato chips and French fries cling on the teeth much longer than sugary foods such as plain chocolate bars. This means that they have greater potential of causing tooth decay because of the longer period of acid production by the bacteria. Remember that it is not the sugar itself that destroys teeth, but the acid produced by bacteria eating on the carbohydrates stuck to our teeth. Sugar is only one among many sources of carbohydrates that come from our diet. Several studies have also shown that tooth decay is related to the frequency of eating; not just the amount of sugar or starch consumed. Frequent snacking harms the teeth because it reintroduces food particles which feed the bacteria.

Here is a fact; our diet is very relevant to our dental care. Example, calcium and vitamin C are two essential nutrients not just to our bone development, but to our dental health care as well. If you lack these nutrients, your teeth are weak. According to research, people who have a regular daily intake of 800mg of calcium have a lesser possibility of getting cavities, tooth decays, and other dental illnesses. Calcium rich foods are usually dairy products like cheese, milk, and yogurt.

Researches reveal that diet is one of the most important factors in the health of our teeth. For example, people who eat food which are rich in vitamin c and calcium have strong teeth and healthy gums. Calcium helps strengthen the outer layer of the teeth (also called the enamel) while vitamin c helps keep the gums healthy. If you wanted to save on dental care cost, then the solutions are simple -you should learn how to prepare a healthy meal from home and you should teach your kids the importance of dental care. Whoever thought that a daily glass of milk and an egg for breakfast are enough to prevent emergency dental care?

Should you avoid sweets? Yes, you should avoid sugary food as much as you can, but there's really no harm in indulging with a bar of chocolate once in a while. Just make sure that you remove all food residues afterwards with a good amount of brushing.