Teeth Whitening

The real enemy of our teeth is streptococcus bacteria that feeds of sugar and carbohydrates. Is sugar the real enemy of our teeth? It is high time to answer this question. Since we were young, our parents cautioned us to avoid eating too many sweets. We usually follow blindly even without sufficient knowledge and understanding.

Is sugar the culprit? Not exactly. Ask any dental care professional in the field, sugar does not decay teeth. Do not blame sugar, but instead blame the streptococcus bacteria that live inside your mouth in biofilms called plaque. These bacteria feed on carbohydrates and exude harmful acids that destroy the calcium layer that cover your teeth. Saliva can neutralize the acid but when the mouth gets too much of acidic, the teeth get demineralized and rot. In this light, even bread and other carbohydrates stand on equal footing with sugar in relation to our teeth.

Cooked starches like chips and fries are harder to remove in the mouth as they cling more than food with high sugar levels like chocolates; this is the outcome of one study by New York University Dental Care. Food that can stay longer in the mouth gives the bacteria more time to secrete acid and more time to eat, increasing the risk of tooth decay greatly. Many researches and studies have also shown that people who eat more often run greater risks of tooth decay.

In a study conducted by the New York University Dental School it was found that cooked starches such as potato chips and French fries cling on the teeth much longer than sugary foods such as plain chocolate bars. This means that they have greater potential of causing tooth decay because of the longer period of acid production by the bacteria. Remember that it is not the sugar itself that destroys teeth, but the acid produced by bacteria eating on the carbohydrates stuck to our teeth. Sugar is only one among many sources of carbohydrates that come from our diet. Several studies have also shown that tooth decay is related to the frequency of eating; not just the amount of sugar or starch consumed. Frequent snacking harms the teeth because it reintroduces food particles which feed the bacteria.

A study conducted by New York University Dental Care shows that chocolates and candies are not the only food which poses a threat to your dental health. Even wholesome food like bread and raisin can lead to tooth decay but the gravest threat comes from cooked starch since these cling to the teeth much longer and these have extended periods of acid production. To rid the mouth of the debris of potato chips and French fries, a quick gargle of water can go a long way. Better still is to attack the problem at its roots by regularly going to the dentist to remove away plaque.

Then again, vitamin C acts as glue that keeps your gum cells intact and somehow seals it from breaking down. It is said that a glass of orange juice everyday raises the assurance of you avoiding gum diseases. However, having proper family dental care is not as easy as having proper nutrition. A balanced and healthy diet is essential for you to prevent spending on high dental care cost and emergency dental care.

Should you avoid sweets? Yes, you should avoid sugary food as much as you can, but there’s really no harm in indulging with a bar of chocolate once in a while. Just make sure that you remove all food residues afterwards with a good amount of brushing.