While some foods provide natural teeth cleaning benefits, others can cause tooth decay and a variety of oral health issues. Sugar is particularly detrimental, which is why you should limit your intake as much as possible. Here's a closer look at how sugar harms your dental health and how a dentist can help you maintain your smile.

What's the Impact of Sugar on Dental Health?

When you eat sugary items, such as a chocolate bar or cupcake, the bacteria in your mouth immediately start feeding on the food particles. Mouth bacteria love sugar, and they excrete acid as they break the particles down. Those acids wear away at the tooth enamel, which is supposed to protect dentin and pulp. 

Dentin contains tiny tubules, while pulp features blood vessels and nerves. Both are highly sensitive to sugar, heat, and cold, and you can experience severe sensitivity when they’re exposed. 

Eating sugary foods also contributes to plaque, the sticky biofilm that coats teeth and forms after mouth bacteria release acids. Both plaque and acid contribute to tooth decay by wearing down enamel. They also irritate gum tissue, contributing to recession and gingivitis. 

How Can You Protect Your Teeth from the Effects of Sugar? 

Keep excessive acid and plaque from forming in your mouth by abstaining from sugar whenever possible. Reading the nutritional labels during food shopping can help you avoid products that you might not expect to have sugar in them. Also, limit your simple carbohydrate and alcohol consumption since the body converts them into sugar as well. 

If you do eat sugar, sip water frequently to flush your mouth of the damaging particles. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste can remineralize your teeth. 

See your dentist every six months for deep teeth cleanings and checkups. They'll use a high-powered brush to remove plaque and prevent tartar buildup. 

Protect your oral health from the effects of sugar with routine visits to Brian Perelmuter, DMD, P.C. The dentist has served Naugatuck, CT, and the surrounding areas since 2006. The practice will provide deep cleanings and other preventive measures to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Call (203) 729-3323 today to make an appointment, or learn more about their services online.