Patient Education
Dental health & your diet
Frequency Beats Quantity
Sugar’s real trick
Sugar is the main cause of dental decay when bacteria are present — but more significant than the amount of sugar you eat is the frequency of consumption. Probably the worst thing you can do to your teeth is sip a soda every few minutes over a long period; the same goes for grazing on snacks. Eating or drinking something sweet over an extended time creates a constant supply of sugar for the bacteria that cause tooth decay.
If you want a snack, soda, or juice, it’s better to have it with a meal, as dessert, or in one sitting. And remember that “sugar” isn’t just what tastes sweet — anything that breaks down into sugar, like a piece of bread, counts too.
When you do have sugar
- Brush after eating, when you can
- Rinse with a fluoride mouthwash
- Chew sugarless gum to stimulate saliva
- Best of all — keep sugary sips and snacks to mealtimes
Is there a food that prevents decay? Not really. Chewing crisp foods like apples and carrots may help sweep some plaque away, but they still contain sugar, so any advantage is unclear.
Watch the acid too
Acidic foods cause their own kind of damage. In frequent contact with teeth, things like lime, lemon, and grapefruit can cause serious, irreversible erosion of enamel. Enjoy them — just not as an all-day habit, and rinse with water afterwards.
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