Learning the relationship between plaque and sugar is important in knowing what damage sugars do to your enamel. There are numerous dental health issues linked to sugar.
Decay to gum disease due to high sugar intake is responsible for ruining healthy smiles everywhere. While doing away with sugar entirely is not necessary to ensure the proper preventative care of your teeth; making smart choices about what you eat and drink is important for healthy teeth and gums.
Tooth Decay, Cavities, Gum Disease and Sugar
Consuming substantial amounts of sugar often results in many dental issues such as tooth decay, cavities, bad breath, and even gum disease. Sugars in drinks, as well as food, mix with bacteria while you eat, creating plaque.
Plaque is an acidic, sticky substance covering the teeth that eat your tooth enamel. When plaque is not brushed away, it continues to eat the enamel, causing cavities over time.
Due to the acidic nature of plaque, teeth become eroded causing decay and cavities. Also, the gums become irritated from the plaque which leads them to recede from the teeth. Over time, receding gums will result in gum disease when good oral hygiene habits are not practiced.
Recommended Sugar Intake
Recommendations from the American Heart Association is no more than 9 teaspoons (or 36 grams) a day of added sugar. For women, the recommended amount of sugar a day is no more than 6 teaspoons (or 25 grams).
However, the amount is much less for children. No more than 3 teaspoons for children ages 4-8; and none or very little for ones younger than four.
Good Oral Hygiene
Practicing good oral hygiene is crucial to the health of your teeth and gums. The American Dental Association recommends teeth should be brushed at least two times a day with a soft-bristled brush. Also, flossing should be done daily to ensure food particles stuck in between the teeth are removed.
Contact us today to learn more about the damages of sugar on your enamel and what you can do to ensure good oral health.