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Growing up, you’ve always been told by your parents to avoid eating too many chocolates and candy because you will end up with bad teeth. It’s not enough to make regular visits to a children’s dentist—after all, it’s better to prevent cavities from forming than dealing with it at all!
Now that you’re older and have a better grasp of taking care of your teeth, you’re still at risk of dealing with tooth decay—especially if you’re the type to drink a lot of soda and alcohol. If you aren’t careful, you can easily find yourself at risk of having to handle toothaches due to growing cavities.
To give you a better idea, we’ve broken down how the food and beverages you consume can cause cavities.
The Food and Beverages You Consume
If your diet revolves around too much sugar, not only are your teeth affected, but so is your health. If left untreated, high sugar intake could trigger a variety of health issues, including diabetes and obesity.
While a diet that focuses on sugary food and drinks influences the presence of cavities, it’s not the real reason for tooth decay. Cavities form when the bacteria in your mouth feeds on the remains of the carbohydrates stuck on your teeth.
The food that gets left behind can be refined sugar, like those found in cake, brownies, cookies, and sugary sweets. While these are the main culprits, even healthy food involving fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can also leave debris that gets stuck in your teeth. As such, your best option is to observe proper dental hygiene practices to ensure that all food debris is properly cleaned out.
The Formation of Plaque
The bacteria that try to devour the leftover carbohydrates end up developing acid. When it combines with your saliva, plaque is formed. The plaque that is produced is what causes cavities—not necessarily sugar nor other traces of food!
Each time you finish eating, plaque can build up in your teeth right away. If you don’t brush your teeth thoroughly, the plaque will start to destroy the enamel—the outer layer of your teeth that acts as its protection. Small holes will develop over your teeth and turn into cavities.
If you’ve ever had a dentist treat your cavities or performed a dental procedure, then you know the presence of small holes formed by plaque can lead to worse issues. They can make their way through the external layer of your teeth and affect your dentin—the softer layer of your teeth.
The Tooth Sensitivity
Once the plaque reaches your dentin, they will continue gnawing their way until they reach the pulp—the place containing your blood vessels and nerves.
The process results in tooth sensitivity while you’re eating or when it’s cold.The bacterial infection will cause abscesses in your mouth, and you will require the help of your local dentist right away to give you a root canal treatment or another dental treatment.
Sugar isn’t the only type of food that can lead to cavities because different varieties of carbohydrates can also trigger tooth decay! While that may be the case, it’s still better to stay healthy, ingest less sugar, and maintain proper dental hygiene.
Conclusion
Your teeth are fragile and should always be taken care of. Good oral hygiene consists of regularly brushing your teeth, flossing, and making regular visits to the dentist. This will ensure you don’t have any active oral issues you need to deal with, helping you avoid the pains and costs of having to treat a tooth cavity.
Are you looking for an affordable dentist near Ann Arbor, MI? Dental House MI is a dental practice that provides services highlighting preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry. Get in touch with us and book an appointment today!
