Sugar: Is it so bad for my teeth, and why?

Did you know that the ancient Greeks were the first, as far as we know, to make the connection between sweets and tooth decay?  They wrote that sweet figs seemed to cause tooth decay, but like many people today, they didn’t understand exactly why.

Here’s why.  When you eat something sweet, little bits of sugar stick to your teeth.  The sugar that finds its way to hard to reach cracks and crevices stays there for a while.  The problem is, bacteria also takes refuge in those cracks and crevices.

Sugar is “food” for this bacteria.  When the bacteria eat the sugar, the excrete acids, and these acids are what erode our tooth enamel and cause decay and eventually cavities.

Now you know why brushing, flossing, and regular professional cleanings are necessary.

You don’t have to refrain from sugar.  You just have to make sure that sugar doesn’t stay on your teeth, including in those hard-to-reach cracks and crevices!

If you live in the Atlanta, Roswell, Alpharetta or Cumming area, call  (678) 319-0123 or email Crabapple Dental to schedule an appointment today!