Did you know that until the early 1900’s, cavities were almost non-existent in the U.S.? People still lost teeth, but mostly because of gum disease, not tooth decay. The reason is simple…up until that time in history, Americans consumed very little sugar unless they had a dessert with their meal. Then Coca Cola, Hershey’s candy and other sweet treats entered the picture and sugar, which is a major contributing factor to tooth decay, became more prevalent in the average American’s diet.

Not only do our taste buds love sugar, but so does the bacteria in plaque, which is always present in our mouths. When those bacteria combine with sugar, an enamel-destroying acid is formed and that acid will eat away at tooth enamel for up to twenty minutes after it has been created. People whose diets contain little or no fermented sugar don’t deal with tooth decay, but those whose diets contain sweet snacks are very susceptible to cavities.

It’s not only candy and sweetened soft drinks that can cause tooth decay, foods like unsweetened fruit juices, raisins and honey have the same effect even though they are healthier forms of treats. Even items like wine, cough drops or chewing tobacco (which is cured in sugar) have a harmful effect on teeth because of their sugar content. In fact, the habit of sipping on a sweetened beverage throughout the day can wreck havoc with your tooth enamel as well. Every time you take a sip of a beverage that contains sugar, the bacteria and sugar get together and form that acid that will work against your tooth enamel for up to twenty minutes. Then, you take another sip of the drink, and the routine starts all over again. In fact, depending on how much sipping of a sweet beverage you do throughout the day, your tooth enamel could be continuously exposed to that destructive acid.

This news doesn’t mean that you have to give up your sweet treats all together, but it does mean that you should be diligent about brushing your teeth or at least rinsing out your mouth after consuming them. Or consider eating treats such as fresh fruit which, even though it contains natural sugar, also contains fiber which ‘washes’ the sugar off your teeth and takes it into your digestive track with the meat of the fruit. And when it comes to sipping on a beverage throughout the day, consider ones that are sweetened with artificial sweeteners which don’t create the enamel-destroying acid.

Another approach to having your sweets and healthy teeth as well is to do as our ancestors did and eat your sweet treats as a part of your meals. When sugar is combined with other foods in a meal, the process of eating takes the sugar out of your mouth and into your digestive system, thus preventing the opportunity for it to combine with bacteria and develop into acid.

Maintaining good daily dental hygiene habits of brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing once a day plus visits to your dentist will also help reduce the damage of tooth decay. To prevent it completely, stay away from sugary treats or get into the habit of brushing your teeth or rinsing out your mouth after eating them.

Author Bio: Dr. Pandya received his D.D.S. degree in 2001. He then completed additional training in Aesthetic at University of California Los Angeles. He also completed certificate in Boston Implant Institute for surgical implant and reconstructive surgeries. Dr. Pandya

Category: Family Concerns
Keywords: dental care, preventive dental care, dental visits, care of teeth, tooth decay