How Sweets lead to Tooth Decay

How do sugary treats lead to tooth decay?

Folks with sweet teeth! Have you ever wondered why dentists stop you from munching those unnecessary sweet candies, chocolates, and chewing gums saying that these will cause tooth decay? If you don’t know how sweets lead to tooth decay, don’t worry. In this article, we are going to break down the relationship between sweets and tooth decay. So, next time you eat any sweet delight, you will be familiar with their impact on your happy and healthy teeth.

What is Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay, also known as dental caries or cavities, is a dental condition that occurs when acid in the mouth attacks and destroys the hard outer layer of teeth called ‘Enamel’ causing holes/cavities in teeth [1]. This acid that attacks the tooth enamel is produced by the bacteria present in your mouth when they feed on sweet, sugary and starchy foods left on your teeth. These problematic bacteria are present in plaque which is a sticky and thin film that is formed over the teeth [2]. If left untreated, tooth decay can progress deeper into the tooth, damaging the layer present beneath enamel which is called ‘dentin’. After affecting dentin, tooth decay eventually reaches the innermost part of the tooth called the pulp. In severe cases, untreated tooth decay can even result in tooth loss.

Symptoms of Tooth Decay

When a person suffers from the problem of tooth decay, he might end up showing the following symptoms:

Tooth Sensitivity: People with toothache might experience increased sensitivity to hot, cold, sweet or acidic foods and beverages. This sensitivity can range from mild to severe.
Toothache: One of the most prominent signs of severe tooth decay is a constant, very painful toothache. This pain may come and go or be constant.
Visible holes/cavities: As tooth decay advances, it can form visible holes or pits in the affected tooth. These holes are typically clear signs of cavities.
Discoloured spots: Staining on affected teeth is another sign of tooth decay. The tooth becomes discolored and dark brown spots may appear on the affected tooth.
Bad Breath: Halitosis or constant bad breath can also be a sign of tooth decay especially when it is accompanied by other symptoms.
Unpleasant taste: Some people with tooth decay may have a complaint of unpleasant taste in their mouths [3].

All of these symptoms cause severe discomfort for people who have tooth decay. But you may be thinking what are the reasons behind this notorious oral problem? Let’s have a look at some of the main causes of tooth decay.

Causes of Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is thought to be caused by a combination of factors. These factors are:

Bacteria

Tooth decay is an infectious disease that is caused by harmful bacteria that are called Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sorbrinus [4]. These bacteria that cause cavities are found and multiply in clumps of dental plaque. These harmful bacteria are responsible for producing acids that damage the tooth enamel, ultimately leading to tooth decay.

Poor Oral Hygiene

Inadequate dental and oral hygiene like brushing or interdental brushing/flossing can leave food particles and plaque on teeth. This can lead to the accumulation of bad bacteria mentioned above that will contribute to decay. You must incorporate these 7 habits in your daily routine for healthy teeth.

Dry Mouth

Saliva in the mouth plays a significant role in maintaining the lubrication of the mouth. Reduced saliva production can lead to dry mouth which will also cause tooth decay.

Sugars and Carbohydrates

This is where sugars and sweets enter the scene. Consuming too much sugar and carbohydrates will flourish the bad bacteria in the mouth. These bacteria feed on these sugars and carbohydrates to release acids. These acids decrease the pH of the mouth making the environment of the mouth more acidic. Additionally, after feeding on sugary foods, these bacteria form plaque. If plaque is not washed away by saliva and brushing or interdental brushing/flossing, the environment in the mouth becomes more acidic and the pH drops to the value of 5.5. This acidity starts to dissolve the minerals (demineralization) and destroys the tooth enamel [5].

Moreover, the frequency of sugar intake also matters. How frequently you eat sugar is also an important factor in tooth decay. This is how sweets lead to tooth decay. So, the main culprit behind tooth decay is sugar. This is exactly how sugars destroy your healthy teeth and form cavities in your teeth.

But every problem has a solution. There are ways to prevent your teeth from decaying. Let’s have a look at these preventive measures.

Prevention of Tooth Decay

Following are the ways you can keep your teeth safe from tooth decay:

Balanced sugar Intake

As you all know, balance is a key. So, you can enjoy sweets but in moderation. Try to eat sugary foods during mealtimes to reduce the number of acid attacks.

Oral Hygiene

Oral hygiene can be maintained in a plethora of ways. For example, chewing healthy gums can stimulate saliva production within the mouth that will remove debris of food particles or plaque, stuck between teeth. Moreover, regular brushing and interdental flossing/brushing help remove bad bacteria from the mouth. It also removes debris of food particles stuck between the teeth. Use fluoride-containing toothpastes to strengthen the enamel of your teeth. So, your toothbrush is your best friend in combating tooth decay.

Make smart food choices

As tooth decay is mainly caused by eating unhealthy, sugary and sticky food, you should eat wisely. Since sugary foods are the leading cause of tooth decay, avoid eating unnecessary sweets like candies, chocolates, regular chewing gums etc. Avoiding sugary food items doesn’t mean that you have to eradicate them from your diet. You can go for sweets that are less harmful. For example, dark chocolates are a good alternative to sticky candies or chocolates.

Additionally, if you are a chewing gum fan you can go for sugar-free chewing gum rather than regular chewing gum because sugar-free chewing gums contain an artificial yet healthy sweetener called xylitol. Xylitol is considered to be good in reversing the acid attacks of bad bacteria on tooth enamel.

Moreover, avoid using aspartame-containing chewing gums because aspartame is considered to be very harmful to human health and encourages tooth decay. So, consider using aspartame-free chewing gums [6].

By considering the above preventive measures, you can definitely save your teeth from stubborn tooth decay.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding the relationship between sweets and tooth decay is very important for maintaining a healthy smile. So, we have summarized this relationship for you in this blog. Furthermore, we have suggested some realistic preventive measures to keep your healthy teeth miles away from tooth decay.

References

[1] Tooth decay is caused by the acids made by bacteria that attack enamel – https://www.jstor.org/stable/25381522.

[2] The bacteria that produce harmful acids in the mouth are primarily in plaque- https://www.actiononsugar.org/sugar-and-health/sugars-and-tooth-decay/

[3] Tooth pain, tooth sensitivity, staining on the tooth- https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/tooth-decay#symptoms

[4] Streptococcus mutants and Streptococcus sorbents are the bad bacteria in the mouth that cause tooth decay- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-sugar-destroys-teeth#TOC_TITLE_HDR_3

[5] Cavities are formed when bacteria in your mouth digest sugar and make acid, causing tooth enamel to deteriorate – https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-sugar-destroys-teeth#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2