Apart from being a myth, the major role that sugar plays when it comes to maintaining your oral health is quite a topic for debate. When maintaining your oral health and well-being, you must understand what role sugar plays in your oral health to ensure the safety of your overall health and well-being.
It is widely known that sugar is bad for your health, and it causes various problems in our health. It is a major contributor to various dental problems like cavities and gum diseases. But their effects are far more than that. You can seek professional guidance from a Glen Ridge, NJ dentist on how to manage sugar’s impact on your oral health better.
To understand some general impacts, read this blog.
They Cause Cavities
When you consume sugar from any source, like beverages, candies, or gum, the sugar gets stuck in your teeth, which attracts the bacteria present in the mouth to feed on them. And when they do that, they also increase the acidic pH of your mouth, which leads to the enamel of the protective layer of your jaw getting eroded.
After a long period of exposure to such an environment, your enamel will completely get demineralized, leaving your teeth unprotected by its hard protective layer. If this problem is still not treated, symptoms like holes in teeth, cavity buildup, and increased tooth sensitivity are seen because the food now consumed is directly affecting the inner part of the teeth, which is called dentin or pulp.
These conditions will escalate into infection, severe decay, and even tooth loss. Sugar intake from refined sources is particularly problematic because they are harmful, and some artificial sugars and fruit sugars are also in the same group of contributing factors. That is why, with the intake of sugar, you need to manage your hygiene better too.
They Cause Gum Disease
Whenever sugar is talked about in oral health, mainly cavities are what come to mind, but they also affect gums significantly. Because consumption of excess sugar will increase the growth of bacteria, whether it is on teeth or gums, on gums they will irritate them and even inflame them.
This condition is a symptom of a gum disease called gingivitis, where the first signs are redness and swelling on the gums, and when you brush your teeth, you will see bleeding too. If this condition is ignored, this can escalate to serious problems that affect bone and tissues that support your teeth.
The formation of plaque on your teeth and gums is also due to sugar intake, and if it is not cleaned properly, it will harden into tartar, which you will not be able to remove and will need professional help to do so. Therefore, regular flossing and cleaning your teeth, especially after eating sugary food,
Other Health Implications of Sugar on Oral Health
The way food is eaten by mouth and transferred to the body for energy, the same way diseases can also be spread that way if not from food then the area where food is gone, mouth. Because it serves as a gateway to the body, the impact of sugar and its result will also affect the overall body. The development of gum disease will impact other systemic health complications like respiratory problems and cardiovascular system issues.
Apart from these, sugar contributes to dry mouth, where saliva production is not sufficient to wash away food particles and neutralize acid. Without saliva, the cause of gum issues and tooth decay will be more likely to develop. Also, sugary beverages not only increase sugar but also high acidity. These will lead to enamel erosion, and your teeth will be more likely to to decay and loss.