You’ve probably had it drilled into you for your entire life that sugar is bad for your teeth. It’s something we’re told from a young age, yet tooth decay remains a serious issue, despite its main cause being common knowledge. Here at Dorking Smiles, we’re on a mission to change that. We want our patients to understand how sugar ingredients affect dental care in Dorking, so that they can apply this knowledge to their own lives and save their teeth from the trauma of tooth decay. Having an awareness of what’s occurring in their mouth should also help them to avoid any further issues in the future.
Why Sugar Isn’t Actually the Main Villain
It’s a common misconception that sugar itself is to blame for tooth decay. In truth, it acts as more of a trusty sidekick to the main villain, which is lactic acid. Lactic acid is produced when the sugar that you consume reacts with the bacteria in your plaque. The acid then lowers the pH level of your teeth, making them more acidic, which causes the minerals in your enamel to dissolve. Enamel is the protective coating on your teeth that shields them from harm. When this is damaged, your teeth are left vulnerable to problems like tooth decay and cavities.
Avoiding the Impact of Sugar on Your Oral Health
Now that you have an understanding of how sugar ingredients affect dental care in Dorking, you must also understand how to fight against their damaging impact. The logical solution would be to cut out sugar entirely, which would effectively prevent the risk of tooth decay by sugar consumption. However, here at Dorking Smiles, we want to give constructive and realistic advice to our patients. It would likely not be practical or sustainable to eliminate sugar from our diets in this day and age. Therefore, we suggest reducing the amount of sugar you currently consume, perhaps making small swaps in your day-to-day life to limit your teeth’s overall exposure to sugar and lactic acid. This might involve refraining from sweetening your coffee in the morning or choosing a low-sugar alternative to your favourite snack. In this vein, we generally advise keeping your in-between meal snacks as sugarless as possible, reserving your sugar intake for mealtimes. When consuming sugary beverages, drinking through a straw can be highly advantageous, as this will reduce the amount your teeth are exposed to sugar in the drink.
The most important thing you can do for your teeth is to maintain basic oral hygiene. This is something that many overlook and can lead to many dental issues if not rectified. Brushing twice a day with a toothpaste containing fluoride is highly recommended, as this will remove any plaque or bacteria from your teeth. We also strongly recommend flossing daily to remove any leftover food from between your teeth, which could lead to tooth decay if left unchecked. After consuming sugar, it’s a good idea to rinse your mouth out with water, as this will wash away the food and sugar residue from your teeth.
Come to Dorking Smiles for Preventive and Restorative Dental Care
It’s amazing how following such simple steps will produce such effective results. Aside from these tips, the best thing you can do to prevent tooth decay is to attend regular dental checkups. This will prevent any dental issues from going unnoticed. If there are any issues, your dentist can swiftly rectify the situation by administering a suitable treatment. Here at Dorking Smiles, we offer countless treatments fit for any issue you may be having. For more information on preventing tooth decay or booking an appointment with our expert team, contact Dorking Smiles today. Your teeth will thank you for it!
