How Eating Too Much Sugar Can Harm Teeth

Consistently practicing an oral care regimen is one way to keep yourself healthy. The effects of sugar on teeth contribute to issues such as cavities, gingivitis, and even periodontal disease. So it is critical to know why sugar is bad for your teeth and what steps to take to keep them cavity-free.

More foods than many people realize contain sugar. Some sugars are natural, like those found in fruits, vegetables, and honey. Other sugars are processed. Those are more common in foods like cookies, candy, and chips. 

Does sugar cause plaque on teeth? Processed sugars cause more damage to teeth because they leave a thin layer of film known as plaque on teeth. Saliva alone cannot remove plaque. Brushing, flossing, and regular dental cleanings remove plaque.

Processed sugar is also found in drinks such as soda. Drinks that have high fructose corn syrup do the most damage because they coat the entire mouth with plaque. 

Sugar can lead to tooth decay. Tooth decay initially appears as a white or brown spot when the enamel softens. 

How long does it take for sugar to damage teeth? Damage can start rather quickly, but decay occurs in stages.

The first is the cavity stage. If enough enamel has worn away, reversing the cavity might not be possible. It is still important to see a dentist though. The cavity needs to be treated to prevent continued erosion. Dental fillings are common treatments, though larger cavities could need a dental crown.

The second phase is dentin decay. Dentin is the softer, sensitive layer of the tooth directly below the enamel. Continued dentin decay exposes the pulp. This is where a tooth's nerves and blood vessels are found.

Beyond dentin, decay is severe decay. An infection, known as an abscess, can develop at a tooth root’s tip.  This may require a root canal treatment or tooth removal.

The mouth is loaded with beneficial and harmful bacteria. Harmful bacteria use the sugar found in food and drinks to produce acid. That acid eats away at your teeth despite saliva’s best effort to clean teeth. This process repeats itself each time a person eats. 

The more sugar consumed, the more acid created. The constant acid attacks on teeth eat away at enamel — the protective layer that envelopes each tooth. Once enough enamel is worn away, the acids continue into the deeper layers of the tooth to create a hole. A patient will feel the pain caused by the cavity. Left untreated, the patient risks losing that tooth.

One side effect of enamel erosion — resulting in part from excess sugar consumption — is tooth sensitivity. Right below a tooth’s enamel is the dentin. Tooth dentin is home to microscopic tubes and canals. Foods that are hot, acidic, cold, or sugary reach the exposed dentin resulting in pain and sensitivity. Sensitivity treatment options include sensitive toothpaste, fluoride varnish, crown, inlay/onlay, composite restoration, a surgical gum graft, or a root canal.

Making dietary changes improves your health in a variety of areas including negating rotten teeth from sugar. That goes for food and drinks as many people don’t realize the high sugar content in some of their favorite beverages.

Sugary drinks are a real threat to a tooth’s health. Many people might not even recognize that some of their favorite drinks are loaded with sugar. Juices are a main culprit. A glass of apple juice contains almost as much sugar as a glass of soda. Making better drink choices decreases the amount of sugar teeth are exposed to. Try these alternatives to some common sugar-filled drinks:

• Water instead of soda
• Unsweetened tea instead of energy drinks
• Milk instead of chocolate milk
• Plain sparkling water instead of a smoothie
• Diluted juice instead of fruit punch or juice

These replacement drink options all have minimal or no sugar. Some sports drinks have high sugar content too. If you or your child prefer to drink them during or after vigorous exercise, opt for sugar-free sports drinks. Or drink water instead.

Why does candy hurt my teeth? It all comes back to the sugar. Sweets and tooth decay go hand-in-hand. Do your best to avoid foods high in sugar content such as hard candy and sticky foods. 

Hard candies, including lollipops, are sugar havens. Along with accelerating tooth decay, hard candies can also heighten the risk of breaking or chipping a tooth. Sticky foods — such as candy and even dried fruit — stay on teeth longer. The longer those foods stay on teeth, the longer bacteria have to feed on the sugar.  

Swap out hard candy for sugar-free gum. Rinse your mouth with water followed by brushing and flossing after eating sticky foods. Those are two ways to minimize the potential damage sugar can cause. People are smart enough to know, “sweets hurt my teeth.” While that is true, make every effort to negate sugar’s harmful effects.

Lots of people have a sweet tooth. So, how to eat sweets without damaging teeth? Employ proper oral care methods to remove the sugar from your teeth shortly after consumption.

Tooth protection starts with good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes in duration using a toothbrush with soft bristles. Replace the brush every three to four months. Make sure your toothpaste contains fluoride.

Follow this brushing technique:

• Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums
• Move the brush back and forth using short, gentle strokes
• Brush in this order: outer surfaces, inner surfaces, and chewing surfaces
• Tilt the brush vertically and employ up-and-down strokes to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth

Don’t forget to floss too. Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line. Lastly, schedule regular cleanings with your dentist.

Tooth enamel’s job is to protect teeth. Besides decreasing sugar intake, try remineralizing your tooth enamel. Start by chewing sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva flow. Eat high-fiber fruits and vegetables to coat your teeth in minerals. Consuming dairy products provides calcium and phosphate to strengthen teeth.

Consult your dentist to discuss any questions about the effects of sugar on teeth. Or, check out our Find a Dentist tool to find a dentist near you for all your tooth decay prevention needs. You can read patient reviews, peruse staff bios, and schedule an appointment online with a click of your mouse.