You might have grown up hearing about the dangers that sugary treats can cause for your teeth. This warning holds weight even in adulthood. Sugar infamously can weaken your dental structure and increase your risk of many dental problems.
But if you consume a great amount of sugar, does this mean you cause permanent damage to your smile? With help from your dentist, you can restore your dental health in the wake of structural harm from sugar consumption. Read on to learn details about how sugar can affect your dental health in significant ways.
How Does Sugar Hurt Your Teeth?
Sugar proves harmful to your teeth because sugar becomes acidic when it reacts with saliva in your mouth. The resulting acid will erode your enamel, the outer layer of your teeth. When enamel weakens, the teeth are more susceptible to tooth decay and other dental concerns.
Enamel cannot regrow once lost, so you should take dental erosion seriously. Take note of the sugar content in the foods and beverages that you consume. Try to limit added sugar so that you do not face this damage to your teeth.
Your teeth can weaken in other ways as well. So to fight cavities and preserve your oral health, you will need to prioritize preventive dental care. This will mean practicing good oral hygiene at home and visiting your dentist for routine check-ups.
Is Dental Erosion Reversible?
While enamel cannot regrow on its own, you can work with your dentist to reverse dental damage from sugar and other acidic substances. Remineralization refers to the process of adding natural minerals to your teeth to rebuild strength after erosion.
You can do this in a number of ways, including supplementing your diet with plenty of calcium. This mineral will add structure and stability to your teeth to make your smile better able to resist threats.
You can also use toothpaste and mouthwash that contain fluoride to strengthen your teeth. This will absorb into your teeth to fortify them and fight tooth decay and other dental dangers. Your dentist can give you fluoride treatment at their office, which involves applying concentrated fluoride to the teeth to restore strength.
If you develop major structural problems in your teeth, your dentist can use restorative treatments to replace damaged enamel. For instance, a dental filling will rebuild the structure where decay eats into the tooth’s surface.
The dentist can also use a dental crown to replace weakened enamel. This ceramic cap covers the entire surface of a tooth and seals into place with dental cement. This way, the tooth can remain safe from further damage while also seeing enhancement in its look and function after suffering erosion or other problems.
However, you should preserve the natural structure of your teeth for as long as you can. Talk to your dentist about preventative dental care to protect your smile from sugar and other causes of dental erosion.