Connection between Sugar and Cavities

Most of us believe that sugar causes cavities. This is the very reason that parents seem pretty concerned about the consumption of candies in their children. And you may tend to think that dentists ask patients to stop sugar consumption for this very reason.

Whether you are a parent wanting your child to have good oral health or you are just concerned about your own oral cavity, you will want to make good oral health choices. So, it may be worth talking about connection between sugar and cavities.

What is a cavity?

A cavity is essentially a hole in the tooth that is formed due to wearing out of enamel mainly due to bacterial presence. The main culprit in this regard is the plaque which allows bacteria to do the damage. Plaque is a soft and sticky substance which sticks to the teeth. It can be cleaned easily but if it is left untreated, it can turn into tartar which is pretty dangerous for the teeth. This tartar can lead to the development of holes in the teeth. The cavity, in its worse condition, can be treated only through root canal or tooth extraction.

Cavity and sugar

Despite what most of the people believe, sugar doesn’t lead to cavities. However, sugar is a favorite food for the bacteria that need to be managed because if they are not managed, they can lead to cavities and gum disease. The worsened cavities can lead to the tooth loss. The bacteria, which feed on sugar, release acid which can be pretty harmful for the tooth enamel. This acid wears down the tooth enamel, leading to tooth decay and cavities. The process of acid weakening the tooth enamel is known as demineralization. Good news is that our teeth re-mineralize due to the presence of several helpful minerals in saliva. But this process of re-mineralization can turn out to be slower as compared to the pace of demineralization in certain scenarios. This is where the risk of cavities becomes real.

Prevention of cavities

When it comes to cavity prevention, you need to keep in mind that avoiding sugary treats is not something that you need to do. You will just have to stay on top of your oral hygiene to make sure that the sugar you consume is not leading to the bacterial misbalance in your oral cavity. You need to make sure that you brush and floss your teeth on daily basis. Moreover, you will need to visit your dentist after every 6 months.