How Does Sugar Affect Your Teeth?
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How Does Sugar Affect Your Teeth?
Introduction:
We have compiled this article on “How Does Sugar Affect Your Teeth?” The reference links are at the bottom of the article.
[1]It’s common knowledge that sugar is bad for your teeth, but it wasn’t always so.
In fact, when the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle first observed that sweet foods like soft figs caused tooth decay, nobody believed him.
But as science has progressed, one thing is certain — sugar causes tooth decay.
That said, sugar on its own is not the culprit. Rather, the chain of events that takes place afterward is to blame.
This article takes a detailed look at how sugar affects your teeth and how you can prevent tooth decay.
Your Mouth Is A Battleground
Many different types of bacteria live in your mouth. Some are beneficial to your dental health, but others are harmful.
For example, studies have shown that a select group of harmful bacteria produce acid in your mouth whenever they encounter and digest sugar.
These acids remove minerals from the tooth enamel, which is the shiny, protective, outer layer of your tooth. This process is called demineralization.
The good news is that your saliva helps to constantly reverse this damage in a natural process called remineralization.
The minerals in your saliva, such as calcium and phosphate, in addition to fluoride from toothpaste and water, help the enamel repair itself by replacing minerals lost during an “acid attack.” This helps strengthen your teeth.
However, the repeated cycle of acid attacks causes mineral loss in the enamel. Over time, this weakens and destroys the enamel, forming a cavity.
Simply put, a cavity is a hole in the tooth caused by tooth decay. It’s the result of harmful bacteria digesting the sugar in foods and producing acids.
If left untreated, the cavity can spread into the deeper layers of the tooth, causing pain and possible tooth loss.
The signs of tooth decay include a toothache, pain when chewing and sensitivity to sweet, hot or cold foods and drinks.
[2]How Do Cavities Develop?
Did you know your mouth is full of bacteria? It’s true. Some are good for the inside of your mouth. Others. Not so much. The harmful bacteria feed on the sugar and carbohydrates, also known as starches, that you eat, and together, they create acids that can turn into bacterial infections. Bacterial infections can do two things. First, they can destroy the enamel (shiny outer layer of your tooth). Next, if left untreated, those bacterial infections will turn into cavities. They go into the deeper layers of your tooth, creating a hole, causing pain and possible tooth loss.
How Does Your Mouth Fight Cavities?
Your teeth are always susceptible to cavity making acids. However, this damage can be reversed by minerals. Minerals come from the enamel of your teeth and your saliva through a process called remineralisation. It generates minerals like calcium and phosphates, both of which are good for strengthening teeth. Fluoride is another mineral that comes into play and also helps repair your weakened enamel. It’s a great process, but it can only do so much. To keep your teeth healthy, you have to limit your sugar intake. That includes starches.
What Are Ways To Remineralise Tooth Enamel?
Cutting down on sugar is a good start. Here are some other ways to promote remineralisation and improve the enamel of your teeth. Stimulate your saliva flow by chewing sugarless gum and eat high-fibre veggies and fruits. It helps to bathe your teeth in minerals. Calcium and phosphates strengthen teeth, so keep dairy products in your diet. Green and black teas contain substances that help suppress harmful oral bacteria.
According to the Indian Dental Association, the product helps prevent tooth decay, and works in two ways: First, fluoride makes your tooth enamel stronger and less likely to suffer acid damage. Second, it can reverse the early stages of acid damage by remineralising areas that have started to decay. The Indian Dental Association further outlines that for adults, drinking water with fluoride continues to support tooth enamel. According to the state health department, fluoride prevents tooth decay in three ways: It prevents plaque bacteria from producing acid; it is absorbed into the tooth enamel, preventing the acids from entering; and it remineralises teeth after attacks by acid-producing bacteria. Today, fluoride is widely acknowledged as a way to prevent cavities and we suggest buying fluoridated toothpaste to get your daily dose of cavity-preventing fluoride. The Indian Dental Association also recognises and supports the professional topical applications of fluoride gels, foams and varnishes in the prevention of dental caries for high-risk individuals.
Ultimately, be mindful of your sugar intake, and teach your kids to be as well. When you eat sugar, brush afterward with fluoride toothpaste, and make sure you also eat the healthy foods that strengthen your teeth. Keep up with your regular dental visits for good measure. Then, you can enjoy your sweet life, only with fewer cavities.
Who Is At Risk Of Tooth Decay?
Everyone is at risk of tooth decay, but children and adolescents are most at risk. Dental caries are the most common cause of tooth loss in young people. Plaque begins to build up on teeth only 20 minutes after we begin eating and if it is not removed effectively, tooth decay starts. People who regularly consume sugar have a higher risk of developing dental caries, particularly if the food they eat is sticky or consumed in between mealtimes. Sugars-containing snacks and sugars-sweetened beverages have particularly bad effects on teeth. People who smoke and consume alcohol are also more at risk. The prevalence of dental caries is also associated with social factors – where adults from lower income households are more likely to suffer from dental caries than those from higher income households (37% compared with 26%)
Dietary Advice:
We currently consume far too much sugar in our diets. The report published by the WHO and by the SACN highlight the need for a reduction in sugars intake to 5% of our energy intake. This is the equivalent of 7 teaspoons/cubes or 30g of sugar per day for an adult. The recommendation for children is 24g for children aged 5-11 and 19g for children aged 4-6. This 5% limit is far below the current intake which is of 11.9% in children aged 1.5 to 3; 14.7% in children aged 4 to 10; and 15.6% in children 11 to 18. It is also thought that adherence to the 5% recommended sugar intake would halt the increase in obesity
Other Ways To Reduce Dental Caries Include:
- Brushing teeth thoroughly twice a day with fluoride-containing toothpaste as well as
- flossing daily.
- Reducing the amount of sugars-containing sticky food, and rinsing the mouth with water if they are consumed.
- Reduce snacking; which helps reduce the production of acid in the mouth.
- Reduce the consumption of sugars-sweetened beverages.
- Only eat sugary foods at mealtimes.
[3]Why Sugar Is Bad For Your Teeth And Health
Although sugar may seem harmless, it can have far-reaching health implications for people who eat it. These health issues can be especially problematic for people who eat diets that are high in sugar. Some results of high-sugar diets can manifest quickly as blood glucose levels soar and then dive. Other issues may fester over time, resulting in serious illnesses such as coronary artery disease and diabetes. By focusing their diet on whole foods that are naturally low in sugar, people can enjoy many health benefits.
Unstable Blood Glucose
- Simple sugars cause blood glucose levels to spike sharply and then fall.
- Excessive swings in blood glucose levels can make people feel tired and unwell. People may also feel emotional mood swings and blood glucose highs and lows.
- As blood sugar goes up and then plummets, many people crave more sugar.
- Eating more sugar is a temporary solution because the blood glucose levels will never stabilize.
Obesity, Heart Disease, Cancer, And Diabetes
- Eating sugar increases a person’s risk of developing issues with obesity.
- Excessive sugar consumption elevates the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
- Heart disease is another health issue connected with diets high in sugar.
- Some types of cancer have a connection with high-glycemic diets.
- The higher insulin levels that accompany diets high in sugar may have a connection with the speed of cancer cell growth.
Immune Function
- Research has suggested that sugar interferes with healthy immune function.
- Sugar may suppress the active immune response in the body.
- Bacteria and yeast that naturally occur in the body react to sugars. These reactions may cause an imbalance.
- Reducing sugar intake may enable the body to balance yeast levels to a healthier level.
Chromium Deficiency
- A diet high in sugar often translates into eating foods that do not provide enough chromium.
- The mineral chromium helps the body regulate blood glucose levels.
- The refining of processed foods depletes these foods of chromium.
- Chromium is naturally present in whole grains, nuts, vegetable oils, and mushrooms.
Aging Acceleration
- Excessive sugar consumption may contribute to sagging and wrinkling skin.
- After sugar enters the bloodstream, it attaches to proteins. This process is called glycation.
- Glycation is connected to loss of elasticity, which occurs as body tissues age.
- Elevated blood glucose levels have a direct correlation with the glycation rate.
Tooth Decay
- Sugar has a direct connection to tooth decay.
- After eating foods that contain sugar, these molecules combine with saliva and bacteria present in the mouth. This combination leads to plaque on teeth.
- Left on teeth, plaque can dissolve enamel, which leads to cavities.
- To control bacteria and plaque on teeth, brush as soon as possible after eating.
Children’s Behavior And Cognition
- After eating foods high in sugar, blood glucose levels often rise sharply. This rise could lead to hyperactivity for some people.
- Kids with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may have a sensitivity to sugar, making them more likely to experience hyperactivity after eating sugar.
- Diets high in carbohydrates could be linked to mild cognitive impairments due to issues with blood glucose levels and the way the body metabolizes insulin.
- Proper nutrition has a connection to the way the brain functions, which can impact how kids learn.
Stress And Anxiety
- External stress causes the body’s stress hormone levels to rise. These hormones enable the body to respond to emergencies.
- Stress hormones also surge in response to low blood sugar levels. This could occur after the spike and dip of blood glucose levels that occurs after eating sugar.
- The body reacts to a surge in stress hormones by feeling irritable and anxious. Some people may even notice their hands shaking.
- Reducing sugar intake can alleviate anxiety for some people.
Replacing Important Nutrients
- Eating excess sugar gives the body many calories, but the calories do not contain nutrients.
- People who consume diets high in sugar often don’t get enough of important nutrients such as vitamins A and C.
- Children and adolescents may be at the highest risk for nutritional deficiencies due to over-consumption of sugar.
- The recommended intake of sugar should be 10 percent or less than the total intake of food.
Conclusion:
Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!
Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental
Article reference links
Why Dental Crowns are Important?
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Why Dental Crowns are Important?
Introduction:
We have compiled this article on “Why Dental Crowns are Important?” The reference links are at the bottom of the article.
[1]A dental crown is a very effective treatment used to restore a tooth that has been damaged in some way, and it has some distinct advantages when compared with the alternatives. However, there are also some disadvantages of crowns that should be considered to make the best treatment decision for each patient. This article will cover the main advantages and disadvantages of dental crowns.
Advantages Of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns provide an adequate solution to a range of dental problems. They are able to:
- Support a tooth that has been significantly damaged by decay
- Protect a tooth that has worn away from being damaged further
- Protect a tooth after a root canal procedure
- Hold a severely cracked or broken tooth together
- Cover a dental implant
- Improve the appearance of a tooth by changing its shape or color
Dental crowns are a good long-term option because they are durable and usually last for at least 5-15 years, which increases patient satisfaction with the treatment.
Treatment with dental crowns has a high success rate with respect to either other dental restoration methods or no treatment at all. This has been supported by various scientific studies which researched their use.
[2]Dental crowns are best utilized as a way to improve the cosmetics of a tooth appearance when the crown simultaneously serves other purposes also, such as restoring a tooth to its original shape or strengthening a tooth. The study presents four different designs of molar crown depending upon the tooth loss. The finite element results obtained suggests that restored material which fills the treated cavity along with small portion of root canal can help in retaining the restored tooth and can allow larger deformations for stresses induced well within the limit.
[3]Dental Crowns: Purpose, Procedure And Important Facts
The use of dental crowns by millions of people from all over the world during the last century has been a mainstay in dentistry. Prior to the development of crown technology the primary treatment for decaying, weak, fractured, or discolored tooth-teeth was extraction.
What Exactly Is A Crown?
Dental crowns, also known as caps were innovated and designed to help maintain the functionality of your damaged or diseased tooth-teeth. By using a custom design and specific materials, a manufactured crown can restore the strength, shape, size and natural appearance of your original tooth-teeth. The rationale for installing a crown is to fully encapsulate and protect the last bit of your own compromised tooth and tooth roots.
The procedure for preparing your tooth for a crown should be carefully performed by a competent dentist to insure a secure fitting crown. This can be accomplished by reducing its size by 0.8 – 1.5 mm (drilling it sideways), to create a balanced and stable tooth stump. If the process is successful there should be enough room for the crown to be placed securely on top of your tooth stump.
There are several decisions that your dentist will need to make during the process which will vary depending on the situation of the specific tooth-teeth being capped:
During The Preparation Phase It Must Be Determined If Your Crown Will Be Placed Above Or Below The Gum Line?
The design of your crown and placement under or above the gum line depends on esthetics, stability of the fit and hygienic benefits of it final positioning. Great care must be exercised to insure your permanent crown prevents future complications or damages to the health of your remaining tooth, its root and surrounding gum tissue.
How Much Tooth Reduction Should Be Considered And Allowed To Achieve An Optimal Crown Situation?
There are established clinical guidelines that dictate the maximum reduction limits which are based on conditional necessity to provide the longest lasting results.
Reducing less of your natural tooth surface while insuring a secure and perfect fit, is the purpose and intention with dental crown placements.
Deciding upon the appropriate material for your dental crowns is also a serious matter, as each option presents its own peculiar set of pluses and minuses. Some of the names of the various materials now used in crown design and manufacturing at WIC, include E.max, Empress, Lava, Bruxer, Titanium, Gold, Gold alloys, Zirconium and Prettau.
The Right Crown Material Will Essentially Depend Upon The Following 3 Key Factors:
- How much strength is needed? More strength sometimes compromises the quality of esthetics (translucency)!
- How do we want the crown to appear after the treatment?
- What type of retention and bonding strength will your crown provide?
Most of these considerations will be decided by your dentist! Keep in mind there are many options and the pricing structure varies considerably depending on the procedure selection and the materials used.
Some Of The Common Reasons Crown Are Recommended Are As Follows:
- To salvage and restore a badly worn down or broken-cracked tooth
- To protect a weak tooth from decay
- To save a decaying tooth which is not structurally sound to survive a filling procedure
- To support a tooth with a large filling that has minimal remaining surface area
- To act as an anchor for a multiple tooth dental bridge
- To conceal and cover a severely discolored or misshaped tooth or teeth
- To prevent a tooth from breaking after a root canal treatment
- To cap your dental implants
- To improve your signature smile for cosmetic purposes
- To protect primary teeth, if there is a high risk for decay as evidenced by your child’s poor hygienic and home care habits
The primary objective of your dentist should be the same as your purpose, which is saving your tooth from early demise and extraction.
Conclusion:
Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!
Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental
Article reference links
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https://www.news-medical.net/health/Advantages-and-Disadvantages-of-Dental-Crowns.aspx ↑
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https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272670992_Study_of_various_molar_crown_designs_and_their_assessment ↑
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https://westcoastinternational.com/dental-crowns-dental-bridges/ ↑
Root Canal Vs. Tooth Extraction
Toothache is highly prevalent in the community which makes patients seek necessary pain-relieving treatments. Root canal therapy (RCT) and tooth extraction are amongst the most commonly administered treatments for pain relief.
Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures That Enhance Your Smile
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Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures That Enhance Your Smile
Introduction:
We have compiled this article on “Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures That Enhance Your Smile.” The reference links are at the bottom of the article.
[1]Cosmetic dentistry is more popular than ever, from whitening and shaping to closing spaces and replacing teeth. And dentists have a large selection of tools and techniques for improving the look of your smile.
Before deciding to undergo any cosmetic procedure, it’s important to know the benefits and risks and what you can expect during the process. Make sure you’re clear about what it will cost, how much experience your dentist has with the procedure, and whether any special maintenance will be needed afterward.
Teeth Whitening
Over time, teeth can become stained or discolored, especially after smoking, taking certain medications, or consuming foods and beverages such as coffee and tea. Using a chemical process, your dentist can bleach your teeth in one of two ways. They can do an in-office procedure, or provide you with a system to use at home.
Your dentist can create a custom mouthpiece tray that ensures the right amount of whitening solution reaches your teeth. You may find whitening at home more convenient. But it can take 2 to 4 weeks or longer depending on the strength of peroxide used. In-office whitening can take place in one or more 1- to 2-hour visits.
Keep in mind, your teeth can become stained again if you continue exposing them to the same substances that originally stained them. Because whitening products are not meant to clean teeth, it is still important to continue practicing daily oral hygiene by brushing twice a day, flossing at least once a day, and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash daily.
Bonding
Bonding may improve how your teeth look if they have excess space between them, or if they are chipped, broken, stained, or cracked.
Dentists also use bonding materials to fill small cavities or to protect the exposed root of a tooth.
The dentist can usually do this procedure in a single office visit by applying an etching solution followed by tooth-colored materials — sometimes composite resins — directly to the tooth’s surface where needed.
Although bonding can last for several years, it is more likely than other types of restorations to chip or become stained or just wear down.
[2]Before You Start Treatment
Before you start any cosmetic dental procedures, it is important to see a dentist to check your whole mouth thoroughly. This is to:
- Treat any disease first. Your health is the priority.
- Find out what is causing the unsatisfactory appearance of your teeth.
- Talk about the range of treatment options.
- Work out a realistic plan that suits you.
What Is Important To You?
Before You See Your Dentist, Think About:
- What you like and don’t like about the appearance of your teeth.
- Any symptoms you may have, such as pain or difficulty eating.
- Treatment you have had in the past and whether you were happy with it or not.
- What you would like to change. Bring a photo if it helps; for example, how your teeth used to look before they were chipped.
- How much time and money you would be prepared to invest. If you have private health insurance, check what sort of dental treatment is covered.
- How much effort you would be prepared to put into looking after your teeth at home in the future. Most cosmetic dental treatment requires extra care at home to prevent tooth decay, gum disease or other problems. Cleaning the area well and having a healthy diet is essential.
It may be useful to write your thoughts down.
Questions To Ask
During your appointment with the dentist, talk about your concerns, using the list above as a starting point. Your dentist may take some x-rays and do some other tests. Ask your dentist about:
- What options are available – the pros and the cons.
- What results can be reasonably expected.
- Costs – time and money, and payment options.
- Possible side effects or complications.
If it is a simple procedure, it may be done on the day. If it is a complex procedure, you may need to time to think about your options, or see specialists over multiple visits. Together, you and your dentist can come up with a plan that suits you.
Conclusion:
Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!
Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental
Article reference links
