You probably know too much sugar isn’t good for your body, but are you aware of the impacts it has on your dental health? Even with proper brushing and flossing, family dentistry professionals warn too much sugar can still have damaging effects on your smile, from accelerating decay to unsettling the balance of bacteria in your mouth.

Tooth Decay & Sugar

While sugar itself doesn’t directly cause decay, it can contribute to plaque formation. When plaque is present in your mouth and you consume sugar, bacteria use it to fuel their reproduction. This creates a thicker paste that adheres to your teeth and becomes more difficult to remove. Family dentistry professionals caution that this can expedite decay, as saliva has trouble washing away the plaque. The longer plaque sits on your teeth, the more likely you are to develop painful toothaches and cavities.

Disruption in Bacteria Balance

Your mouth is home to several types of bacteria that ultimately benefit your oral health. These bacteria are responsible for washing away plaque, helping to restore minerals in the teeth and keeping your cheeks, gums, and tongue healthy. When you consume large amounts of sugar and the plaque on your teeth thickens and multiplies, it makes it challenging for the good bacteria to perform their job and provide minerals to strengthen your teeth. With a diet heavy in sugar, bad bacteria will overtake the beneficial strains, and your teeth will become weaker.

Taking Care of Your Teeth

One of the easiest ways to improve your oral health is by scheduling regular visits to your family dentistry provider. Annual cleanings and examinations can reveal the condition of your teeth and will enable your dentist to treat any risk-prone areas before they develop into larger problems. Of course, you can also care for your teeth at home. Monitor the amount of sugar you consume, and if you do choose to satiate your sweet tooth, be sure to brush and floss afterward.

Kemper Pond Dental is a family dentistry practice located in Cincinnati, OH, that offers a number of valuable oral health services to individuals in the community. In addition to providing important preventative dental care, they also perform cosmetic dentistry and more complex procedures such as dental implants. If you want to get your smile in the best shape possible, call the professionals at Kemper Pond Dental at (513) 531-4069 to schedule an appointment for an oral health evaluation. You can also view more services on their website.