Sugar and teeth: Why they don’t get along

Sugar. You’ve been told from a young age to avoid it but it’s like the chocolate bars and other sweets are calling to you. Let’s talk about how sugar can harm the teeth, as well as why your pearly whites might hurt after eating sweets. Are your teeth sensitive to sugar? There’s also a tip below about when to brush your teeth that can help you maintain good oral health.

Say no to sugar

Sugar is one of the worst things you can consume when it comes to your teeth. While cookies and cake are yummy at the time, they can come back to haunt you with cavities and tooth decay later.

So, try to reach for foods that have plenty of vitamins and minerals rather than sugar in them the next time you’re hungry. That can help your teeth and gums stay healthy.

Unfortunately, sugar pulls bacteria to it, which means your mouth can become a dangerous environment. As bacteria grows, it can weaken tooth enamel. You might even develop gum disease.

Once the tooth enamel barrier is weak and full of holes, more serious issues can set in. Cavities and infections can lead to the need for procedures like wisdom tooth extraction or professional polishing to rid your mouth of the risk.

Avoiding all of this is possible by starting at the source and saying no to sugar. It can make a massive difference to your oral health, so don’t doubt the importance of this step.

It’s not always easy to cut out sugar completely, of course. It hides in unexpected places like pasta sauces and white bread. But, even just trying to cut down can have a noticeable impact on the health of your teeth overall.

Cutting down on your sugar intake is also an important part of a healthy eating routine.

Are your teeth sensitive to sugar?

Another issue people have is dental pain when eating sweet foods. Do you experience this achy feeling too?

If you’re suffering with pain, it could be that the tooth sensitivity is because of a lack of tooth enamel. As for why the enamel is worn away, there are many possible reasons, including brushing too hard or eating too many acidic foods.

Either of those actions can hurt the outer enamel layer, which exposes your chompers to the sensitive tooth layer underneath. The sensitivity occurs because there’s one less layer before the nerve center of the tooth now.

Thankfully, there are ways to prevent tooth sensitivity to sugar. Obviously, have less of it! Also, use a toothbrush with soft bristles. It’s extra gentle on the teeth.

Also, consider switching to a sensitivity toothpaste. That’s going to provide you with protection against the pain if you still want to eat sweets.

Know when to brush too

Simply brushing your teeth morning and night may not be enough to keep your mouth clean, unfortunately. While it is a great first step toward maintaining healthy teeth and gums, cavitites can still happen.

That makes sense now that you know more about the sugar and teeth relationship. Here’s what you need to know about doing more than the twice-a-day brushing.

If you’re going to eat or drink something acidic, brush your teeth before consuming it, rather than afterwards. Why? If you brush immediately after, brushing that soon can remove enamel from the teeth that has been weakened by the food or drink. Instead, brush beforehand to minimize the harmful effects.

Also, one of the best activities that you can pursue after brushing your teeth is flossing. The small string of floss dislodges anything stuck in between your teeth in places that toothbrushes simply can’t reach.

It can also be of real benefit to follow up your flossing routine by swilling with a strong mouthwash that suits your individual needs. There are mouthwashes for sensitivities, bad breath, bleeding gums and more.

See the dentist for check-ups too, and go sooner to their office if you experience pain. Oh, and replace your toothbrush about every four months.

Concluding words on sugar, teeth, and you

Taking great care of your oral health is easier once you know the points described above, including why your teeth can become sensitive to sugar. Start off by kicking your sugar habit to the curb, saying goodbye to all things sweet. Doing that can mean avoiding cavities and infections inside your mouth.