The Effects of Sugar On Your Teeth
Don’t let the sweetness fool you
Sugar is in an alarmingly high amount of foods and drinks and unless you’re scanning the ingredients of every single thing you consume, sugar is hard to avoid. Knowing the effects sugar has on us, might just make you a bit more vigilant when making your grocery selections.
Don’t let the sweetness fool you
Sugar is in an alarmingly high amount of foods and drinks and unless you’re scanning the ingredients of every single thing you consume, sugar is hard to avoid. Knowing the effects sugar has on us, might just make you a bit more vigilant when making your grocery selections.
What is sugar doing to my teeth?
The bacteria in your mouth that forms plaque absolutely loves sugar! The sugar acts as fuel for the bacteria and saliva present in the mouth and once they all combine it forms plaque which can then dissolve teeth enamel which can eventually lead to cavities.
This constant battle in the mouth means teeth are constantly under attack but these attacks when acids leach minerals from the enamel. Fortunately, this is naturally reversible through remineralisation which replaces those minerals and strengthens the teeth all over again.
The most important things which help here are saliva and fluoride, as they contain minerals such as calcium and phosphates, which are needed to repair teeth.
So I can eat as much sugar as I want?
Nope… sorry. Consuming high amounts of sugar throughout the day can prove too much for the natural remineralisation process.
What you eat and drink is just as important as brushing your teeth and flossing. If you consume nutritious food, rather than foods that are high in carbs, such as high sugar lollies, desserts and sugary drinks - which should only be seen as treats for special occasions. We’re not saying to cut these out of your diet completely but, you should brush your teeth straight after to avoid damage.
How do I avoid long-term teeth damage?
Keep on top of your oral hygiene
Brush your teeth twice a day and if you can, give them a brush after meals. Don’t forget flossing to get those leftover particles from between your teeth and let your gums breathe!
Regular dental checkups
Visiting your dentist every 6 months will not only give you that deep clean that a toothbrush just can’t do, it will also help identify any issues before they become more complex (and more expensive). Regular checkups also mean you're less likely to need a visit to The Emergency Dentist Sydney.
There’s no need to deprive yourself of sugary deliciousness, just don’t forget the struggle of your teeth and don’t forget to treat them right!
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How Much Bacteria Is in My Mouth?
The Problems and Solutions
The Problems and Solutions
You might look in the mirror and think your teeth are clean but it’s the things you can’t see that matter. Bacteria are tiny organisms that live in every organ in your body and over every inch of your skin. And most of the time they’re absolutely harmless as well as essential to your continued health and wellbeing. But when it comes to your oral health, there are a few bacteria that can do a lot of damage.
Tooth Decay Bacteria
Bacteria can be found all through your mouth and can build up depending on what you eat and do. The most common type of bacteria that causes tooth decay is called Streptococcus mutans. This bacteria is always found in the mouth and feeds on the sugars and starches that you eat. The worst bit is that it secretes acids that attack the enamel of your teeth, causing cavities and gum disease.
Gum Disease Bacteria
Gum disease can cause a lot of damage to your mouth. There are two types of bacteria that usually cause gum disease, known as Treponema denticola and Porphyromonas gingivalis. These bacteria can increase in number and secrete toxins that disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in your mouth. When this occurs, the bacteria attack the gums and cause infection, pain, and even tooth loss. Gum disease can be a serious problem, so if you think you have it make sure you seek professional help as soon as possible as it must be treated by a qualifies dentist to ensure the best outcome possible.
How to Keep Your Mouth Healthy
It’s impossible to get rid of all the bacteria in your mouth, and if you managed to do so you would be extremely sick. However, you need to be aware of the problems that some of these bacteria can cause and take measures to control their numbers and keep your mouth healthy. The following steps will help you do that:
Brush at least twice a day, especially after meals.
Floss your teeth every time you brush.
Make sure you see your dentist regularly for check-ups and cleans.
Chew sugarless gum after meals to encourage saliva
Use an anti-bacterial mouthwash regularly.
Avoid sugary foods and drinks.
Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:
For the best general and emergency dental care, contact our Emergency Dentist in Sydney. Our caring and expert staff are available 24 hours a day to help you with all your emergency dental needs.
Is Tooth Enamel Loss Really Permanent?
Keep it Healthy
Keep it Healthy
Your tooth enamel is pretty tough and it has to be. It’s under constant assault from foods and drinks, not to mention the bacteria that grows in between brushing. Plus, every time you drink a soft drink or eat something sugary, it makes your enamel weaker. And that’s a problem because your enamel defends your teeth against decay, and when it gets damaged you’ll probably end up having to make an emergency trip to an after hours dentist. If you want to avoid that, here’s what you need to know about this essential part of your teeth.
What is Enamel?
Enamel is the hard coating over the softer parts of your teeth. It’s made primarily of a mix of minerals, and is the hardest substance in the body, harder even than your bones. However, once your enamel is damaged or worn away, it doesn’t grow back. Though your dentist can repair small lesions that weaken enamel, once it’s gone you’re going to have serious problems with your teeth for the rest of your life.
There are a number of things that can damage the enamel on your teeth. The most problematic are:
Soft drinks, because the high sugar content eats away at the enamel and weakens it overall.
Sugary foods, which have the same effect as soft drinks.
Certain medications can soften the enamel.
Conditions like Bruxism or teeth grinding, because the constant motion wears the enamel away.
Diseases like Acid Reflux Disease, where stomach acids rise from the gut and can wear away the teeth.
Genetics.
How to Tell if Your Enamel is Worn
It’s usually pretty easy to tell if your enamel has been damaged or worn away in any areas. With the enamel gone, the soft inner surfaces of your teeth will be exposed to the open air and to any food and drink that you consume. This means that the affected teeth will become discoloured or stained more easily. Your teeth will also become more sensitive to hot and cold foods or drinks.
Enamel is very strong, which is why your teeth are fairly hard to break. But when the enamel wears away, you will also notice that your teeth chip or break more easily. This is why you need to visit your dentist if you notice any changes in your teeth. Because once your teeth start to break, fixing the problem becomes much more difficult.
Strengthening and Repairing Enamel
Once your enamel is gone, it can’t be replaced. However, if you know ahead of time that your enamel is thinning then you can take steps to try and boost its health. That’s one reason why you need to make regular trips to the dentist for check-ups, because they’ll be able to tell you if you have a problem with your enamel.
Products that contain fluoride can be very helpful in keeping your enamel strong. Fluoride acts as a barrier between food and drinks and your enamel, preventing damage or degradation. You can also find toothpastes that contain minerals that will help to strength enamel weak spots by inundating them with calcium. This will help prevent further damage to the enamel and hopefully prevent it from being completely worn away from your tooth or teeth.
How to Prevent Enamel Loss
You can’t replace enamel that’s been lost, that’s why the best strategy to preserve your oral health is to avoid things that cause damage. So if you grind your teeth, talk to your dentist about a mouth guard. Try to avoid medications such as aspirin which cause enamel erosion. Avoid sugary foods and drinks as much as possible. And most of all, take a proactive role in your oral health. This means informing yourself about the health of your enamel and talking to your dentist about any issues before they become serious problems.
Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:
If you have a dental emergency, contact our Emergency Dentist in Sydney. Our caring and expert staff are available 24 hours a day to help you with all your emergency dental needs.
The Real Truth About Kid's Teeth vs Sugary Drinks
Is giving in and allowing your kid the occasional Pepsi really so bad? The real truth behind the kids and sugary drinks issue is a lot more complicated than that though...
From A Dentist's Perspective
Sugary drinks have, as we're sure you've noticed, been getting a particularly bad rap recently. Not just the obvious ones like cola though, but also soft drinks with high sugar content that is less apparent, like some of those flavoured 'energy' drinks and water beverages that are trendy right now.
The reasons that sugary drinks are under fire are many; they are, in many cases, packed with calories that can contribute to the increasing obesity problem in adults and kids that is plaguing Australia (and the rest of the world), that obesity can lead to type II diabetes in the same populations, and, of most concern to us, tooth decay.
But is giving in and allowing your kid the occasional Pepsi really so bad? Especially if you have them drink the diet stuff? After all, they're only kids and they can always brush their teeth, right? The real truth behind the kids and sugary drinks issue is a lot more complicated than that though.
'Rethink Your Drink'. The much discussed and shared visual of how much sugary really is in our drinks.
What Soft Drinks are 'Bad Soft Drinks' Anyway?
OK. We can establish that a can of 'full strength' Coke a day - with its 161 calories and 10 teaspoons of sugar per 375mL can - is not a good habit to get into, even for a lively child who'll burn off those extra few calories by running around being a kid with ease. But colas and other similar fizzy drinks are not the only baddies here.
Take diet versions of colas. No, there are no calories in them, and no 'real' sugar, but they are highly acidic, even more so than their regular counterparts - real Coke has a pH of 2.53 versus diet's 2.45 - which is a terrible thing for the teeth. And those high levels of acid are even found in some of the fruit juices we often consider to be the best soft drinks to give to our kids.
This acid can cause a specific type of tooth decay; acid erosion. Dr Amrin from the Emergency Dentist Sydney says, "We have noted an increase over the past 16 months in the number of children we see who have the beginnings of tooth erosion. Unfortunately this type of erosion is unnatural and irreversible as it is not a result of bacteria and effects the structure of the tooth."
And the leading cause of it? Sugary and/or high acid content soft drinks. You see, if you were to encourage your child to only eat their three meals a day, with no sugary snacks or drinks in between, decay and erosion causing bacteria only have three opportunities to damage teeth. However, sugary drinks and snacks extend the time the bacteria are producing acid, and even the natural damage fighting power of saliva is diminished.
During the hours between tooth brushings, damage will be done. Dr Amrin advises, "Even children with the most health conscious and diligent parents will encounter foods and drinks with extremely high sugar content. Best practice is to brush immediately after consumption."
The Worst of a Bad Lot
Wondering which products should be put onto the 'worst' list? According to a report from the Australian Dental Association, which involved the results of testing on 35 different popular soft drink options found in most supermarkets, the following were the biggest risks to the health of teeth
Pepsi
Coca Cola
Diet Coke
Pepsi Max
V Energy Drink
Fruit cordials like Golden Circle Pineapple Crush
Fruit drinks like Pop Tops Apple Blackcurrant Drink
Heavy fruit juices, as the acid they contain is particularly resistant to the effects of saliva.
Of course, any parent will rightly ask what they are supposed to offer to their picky child in place of these admittedly pretty yummy drinks. If the warnings aren't enough just remember, "loss of tooth enamel in children can be extremely painful," says Dr Amrin.
"Treatment for tooth decay in children is often traumatic. Multiple courses of antibiotics are often required and teeth may need to be pulled," he says. "For a child having teeth taken out, it's a very scary experience for them and it can often result in the need for a general anaesthetic. Not to mention the knock-on effects socially and long-term effects of growth."
Milk is a good choice, as is water that has been 'infused' with real fruit, by steeping pieces of fresh fruit in a pitcher full of water.
The Emergency Dentist Says:
Most of the damage to you teeth caused by sugary drinks is done in the first 40 seconds. Even with twice a day brushing sugary drinks can do serious harm to children’s' teeth, so they really are better off without them, and so are their teeth.
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