Your Student Life: Sugar and Your Teeth

March 12, 2024

You’ve probably heard that sugar is bad for your teeth, but why is that true? Let's explore how sugar affects your teeth, and what preventative measures you can take to keep your mouth healthy.

Let's begin by talking about what lives inside your mouth: bacteria. There are over 500 species of bacteria in your mouth, and they are everywhere including your teeth, tongue, gums, cheeks and roof of your mouth. The cells of most surfaces like your cheeks and roof of your mouth shed (like your skin exfoliates), so the bacteria is typically one layer thick and unnoticeable. Teeth, on the other hand, are made up of a dense mineral called hydroxyapatite which does not shed, meaning that bacteria can easily stick to the tooth surface and each other and eventually stack up in multiple layers. As bacteria grows, and the layers increase, it can be visible on your teeth as a thick, sticky yellow substance called plaque. If plaque is not removed well enough with brushing and flossing, it will harden onto the tooth (tartar), and can only be removed with a professional cleaning by your dental hygienist.

Just like us, bacteria love sugar! Certain harmful strains of bacteria (streptococcus mutans, lactobacillus) will actually feed off of the sugar you eat and produce lactic acid as a byproduct. Lactic acid causes the Ph in your mouth to shift from its normal state of neutral to acidic. When your mouth becomes acidic, the minerals in your teeth will begin to dissolve (known as demineralization). Luckily, your mouth has a way to combat the acid. After eating, your saliva will release buffers to bring the mouth back to neutral. It typically takes 20-30 minutes after eating to complete. Once the mouth returns to neutral, the minerals that dissolved from the teeth will bind back into the teeth (known as remineralization) and your teeth stay strong and healthy.

If your mouth has a way to naturally combat lactic acid, why is eating sugar so bad? If you are snacking on sugary foods all day, your mouth will never have the chance to return to neutral, and the minerals that dissolved from your teeth will not be able to remineralize. If too many minerals leave your tooth, your tooth will soften and become weak, which is called a cavity. Cavities can be fixed by your dentist, but if not treated right away, they can cause the tooth to break beyond the ability for your dentist to repair, or bacteria can travel into the inner layers of the tooth creating a painful infection.

A consistently acidic mouth will also encourage harmful types of bacteria to thrive. Non-harmful bacteria in your mouth thrive in neutral environments, while the harmful bacteria love acid. If your mouth is consistently acidic, the harmful bacteria will continue to grow, throwing off the balance of bacteria (also known as dysbiosis) which intensifies the effects of acid on the teeth, making it harder to prevent cavities.

How can you prevent sugar from causing bacterial dysbiosis and cavities? The best way to prevent the damage from sugar would be to limit the amount and frequency of sugar you are eating. Foods like candy, fruit snacks, cookies, pop, juice, sweetened coffee and energy drinks have a lot of sugar and will keep your mouth in an acidic state if you constantly snack or sip throughout the day. Instead, eat these foods during mealtimes. For example: drink a can of pop while eating lunch instead of sipping on it all day. Or enjoy a peanut butter cups or cookie right after dinner instead of snacking on them between meals. Some foods may not seem sugary, but actually break down into harmful sugars while chewing. Crackers, chips, Cheetos, granola, dried fruits, raisins and sticky chewy breads will cause cavities too. Be sure to limit your snacking throughout the day.

Brushing and flossing regularly will remove bacteria and plaque from your teeth. Less bacteria means less acid produced after eating sugary foods. If you are able, try to brush after every meal, or at the very least brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes at a time with a quality electric toothbrush. Floss, or use a water flosser every night before brushing your teeth. Be sure to use a toothpaste containing Stannous fluoride (will be listed under “active ingredient” on product label). Stannous fluoride is different from other fluoride toothpastes because it is both antimicrobial and remineralizing.

Fluoride products are extremely helpful when it comes to strengthening acid weakened teeth, and preventing cavities. Fluoride binds to the weak areas of the tooth creating fluorapatite, which is stronger and more acid resistant than the natural hydroxyapatite your teeth are made out of. Use an anti-cavity fluoride mouth rinse at least every night for added protection. It takes 30 minutes for the fluoride to fully bind to the teeth, so be sure to avoid eating and drinking for 30 minutes after using fluoride products, and never rinse your mouth with water after brushing!

Be sure to visit your dentist and dental hygienist at least twice a year for an exam and cleaning. Your dental hygienist will remove tartar and plaque from your teeth, reducing the amount of bacteria in your mouth, along with reviewing brushing and flossing techniques, and recommending preventative products to ensure that your teeth remain healthy and strong. Your Dentist will examine your teeth and look at your X rays to check for signs of cavities. If you have any questions feel free to give Student Health Services Dental Clinic a call, we are happy to help!

 

Lisa Williams RDH, BS

Dental Hygienist
Student Health Services
Officed of Student Life