The Sweet Truth About How Sugar Affects Your Teeth by Arif Patel from Dubai

Sugar comes in a lot of things, like cookies, sodas, fruit juices, chocolates, and even products that don’t taste sweet, like bread and ketchup. A lot of people know that consuming too much sugar is harmful for teeth, but not everyone knows why. It’s not just the sugar that hurts teeth; it’s what happens once the sugar gets into the mouth. 

Dr Arif Patel, one of the leading Dentists in Dubai and UK, put through his opinion and suggestions in the same regards. As per him, Sugar can do lot more damage to our teeth and general health than we could ever imagine.

Let’s make this ‘not so delicious’ truth easy to understand. 

Bacteria, Not Sugar, Hurt Teeth !

It may seem strange, but sugar by itself doesn’t hurt teeth. Instead, it gives food to the bacteria that live in the mouth. These bacteria love sugar as much as people do, and they start to break it down right away. When they do, they let forth acid that adheres to teeth. This acid steadily breaks down the tooth’s protective coating, which is termed “enamel. According to Dr Arif Patel, this causes “cavities.”

The more sugar you eat, the more likely you will get sick !

It’s not just about how much sugar you eat; it’s also about how often you eat it. When sugar gets into the mouth, it damages the teeth with acid for at least 20 to 30 minutes. When you eat or drink sweet stuff all day, such soda, cookies, or candy, your teeth are always under attack from acid.

Dr Arif Patel confirms that eating too much “healthy” sugary snacks like raisins, dry fruits, or sweetened yogurt can still cause cavities.

Sticky sugars are the worst.

Some sweet foods are better than others. Sticky candy like caramel, toffees, and gummy candies stick to teeth and stay there longer. This gives bacteria more opportunity to make acid. Sodas and fruit juices are also bad for you since they wash sugar all over your mouth.

Kids’ Teeth and Sugar

Kids are at the most risk as pr Dr Arif Patel. Even though baby teeth don’t last long, they are crucial for speaking, chewing, and making room for adult teeth. That said, kids who eat a lot of sweets or go to bed with a bottle of milk or juice might get early childhood tooth decay. This hurts and could damage their permanent teeth later.

Could Sugar Free Options Help ?

• It’s better to choose sugar-free gum and candy. After meals, chewing sugar-free gum helps make saliva, which washes out acid. Moreover, sweeteners that are good for teeth, such xylitol, can even kill microorganisms in the mouth. But keep in mind that “sugar-free” doesn’t always indicate “healthy” or “good for teeth,” so moderation is still important.Easy Ways to Keep Sugar from Hurting Your Teeth

  Dr Arif Patel adds that you don’t have to stop eating sugar totally to keep your teeth safe; you just have to be smart about it.

  Here are some simple tips:

• Drink water after eating sweets
• Don’t sip sugary drinks slowly over time.
• Limit the amount of sticky sweets and candies.
• Pick fruits instead of sweets or chocolate.
• Get a Dentist check up on a regular basis.

Conclusion
Hence, we can conclude that sugar may taste amazing, but it is still bad for your teeth. Also, as per Dr Arif Patel, the idea isn’t to cut off sugar completely, but to learn how it impacts tooth health. That said, you may enjoy sugar without letting it control your smile if you clean your teeth well, snack wisely, and visit the dentist often.