Hey bloggies, as a woman who has paid dearly (literally and figuratively) for the impact of sugar on my oral health, this may be something to pay attention to….
From a very young age we all hear plenty about how to care properly for our teeth. When we are children our parents teach us how to brush, and how often to do so (remember the drudgery of brushing before bed EVERY day…??); as we grow older, we tend to start having regular dental appointments, usually set up by our parents until we leave the house. And, when we are finally our own, many of us turn to store products and websites like topdentists.com/ for additional help and advice in keeping our teeth clean and healthy. However, while proper dental techniques are a must, and while the right advice can certainly help, it is still important to remember that true dental health goes well beyond how often you brush, or which sort of mouth wash you use. One of the most important elements of oral health, that many people overlook, is that what you eat plays a huge role in your oral hygiene and dental health. For example, you may have heard that sugar can be extremely harmful to your teeth. This, in fact, couldn’t be more true, and the topic is worthy of further explanation in order to gain a more thorough understanding of what excessive sugar intake can do to your mouth and teeth.
Common oral problems such as cavities, gum disease, and general decay, are caused by bacteria, if they are allowed to grow abundantly in your mouth. The results of bacteria overgrowth are familiar to most of us: they are the typical the things that you see in an unhealthy mouth, and the kinds of things that dentists remark on when you go for a visit. Essentially, given the proper conditions, bacteria that feed off of food, drink, and other things put into your mouth, will thrive and attack your teeth, ultimately resulting in often painful and usually visual decay. This is especially true if your food or drinks containing sugar. Sugar is a quick and potent food source for oral bacterial. The endpoint of eating sugar without proper tooth care could be gums disease, cavities, and even the complete loss of teeth, if the problem is left unattended.…and nobody wants that!
However, far too many people make the crucial mistake of waiting until these problems exist to address them. The fact is that it would be far easier to nip dental problems in the bud, which in many cases means addressing the core problem of sugar intake. Quite simply, the sugar that is consumed acts as a feeding force for bacteria, and invites the bacteria to thrive and grow more quickly. Every single time that you allow sugar to enter your mouth, you may be enabling the bacteria that live in your mouth to grow stronger and more dangerous, and you are therefore endangering your dental health. So, the ramifications of sugar intake go beyond just weight and blood sugar issues.
However, there is good news. This doesn’t mean that you need to completely avoid sugar in your diet to have healthy teeth. However if you are going to indulge, you must be aware and take precautions to care for your teeth if you want your teeth to be there for you in the long run! The best advice is to brush your teeth immediately after eating the sweet treat. Remember that this includes sugars found in yogurts, juices, milk products and cereals as well as the more obvious culprits, such as desserts. You could avoid a lot of pain and costly dental work with this simple approach to oral health.
So, don’t be shy to carry a toothbrush with you to work or special events where you’re likely to consumer sugar, and don’t hesitate to contact your dentist with more questions.
Off White Living 