Is Sugar really that bad for my teeth?

Yes! Sugar is bad for your teeth unfortunately; we wish it wasn’t! But it’s not as bad as you think. We’ve answered some of the most common questions about sugar and your teeth.

 

Is “diet” and sugar-free better for my teeth?

You would think so, but no! Although it doesn’t have as much sugar or “sugar-free”, it contains other harmful ingredients such as phosphoric acid, citric acid and/or tartaric acid. These acids are just as bad for damaging the enamel in your teeth which leads to decay and potential cavities or gum problems.

 

Fruit juices are the same, these can be high in natural citric acid, so even if you decide to have an apple juice instead of a can of coke, this doesn’t exactly prevent damage to your teeth. If you do fancy a sugary drink, drink it through a straw to avoid contact with the teeth!

 

If you would like a challenge, try to cut out all sugary drinks and just drink water! Tea and coffee are okay but watch out for staining!

 

What’s better, eating a packet of sweets in one go or picking at them throughout the day?

Every time you eat sugar or starchy food, the plaque bacteria in your mouth creates an acid that ships away at the tooth enamel. So, each time you eat a sweet or sip at a sugary drink, you are activating that bacterium and attacking your teeth, after about an hour the bacteria gets tired and stops the attack.

 

Eating a packet of sweets in one go is less damaging than making your way through them all day.

 

Should I brush my teeth immediately after eating sugar?

It depends! If you’ve had refined sugar, so a bar of chocolate or something similar then yes brush your teeth afterwards.

 

But if it’s something like fruit juice which is sugar and acid, then no, wait an hour or so and then brush your teeth. This is because the acid changes the pH level in your mouth and brushing straight after can increase the risk of damaging the enamel.

 

Should I cut out sugar completely?

Although sugar is very damaging for your teeth, so can food and drinks which contain acid as mentioned above. Alcohol is also damaging for your teeth as it is also contains a large amount of sugar.

 

What you should do is avoid refined sugar and keep a good level of oral hygiene, we also recommend coming in to see our hygienists every few months, they can give your teeth a good clean and catch any problems early.