Is sugar a dental supervillain, or are dentists exaggerating? The results are in, and they’re not good. Excessive sugar consumption correlates with an increased risk of weight gain, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic diseases.
The effect on your teeth can be just as frightening. It’s not the sugar itself that is harmful here, but rather the bacteria that feed on it. When the bacteria process the sugar, they produce plaque as a by-product.
Why Is Plaque Problematic?
The longer plaque lingers on your teeth, the more damage it does. The acidity eats away at your tooth enamel and causes tooth decay. The tooth becomes infected, and the bacteria feed on the pulp inside.
What Are the Effects of Tooth Decay?
The area will become inflamed and painful. In advanced cases, your dentist may have to perform a root canal to save the tooth. In the worst-case scenario, they will have to extract the tooth to prevent the infection from spreading to the gums and bone.
The Good News
Considering that 9 out of 10 Australians will have gum disease at some point in their lives, it’s time to take notice. The good news is that there is a lot that patients can do to prevent gum disease.
Aside from good dental hygiene, patients should monitor how many grams of sugar they ingest daily. You can still indulge in sugary foods and beverages occasionally but should prioritize fruits and vegetables.
These foods contain natural sugars and fibre. The fibre offsets the effects of the sugar by starving the harmful bacteria and scraping plaque off the teeth.
Stop Gum Disease in its Tracks with Great Dental Hygiene
Reinforce your daily dental routine by making an appointment for a check-up at Coast Family Dental in Currimundi. Book online or by calling (07) 5437 9000.
