After indulging in our favorite dessert, we're always left feeling satisfied… and ready for a lie-down. The last thing we think about doing next is brushing our teeth.
However, as sugar is one of the primary culprits to damaging our oral health, understanding the importance of brushing your teeth after consuming sugar is crucial in maintaining a healthy smile.
Sugar is a simple carbohydrate found in food, which food labels refer to in many ways, including sucrose, fructose, glucose, dextrose, or corn sugar. Even if you try to eat a balanced diet, popular ingredients like honey and agave nectar contain sugars that can affect your tooth enamel.
Learn why brushing your teeth after eating sugar is important and how brushing better will keep your teeth white and healthy.
Contents
- What does sugar do to your teeth?
- How much damage does sugar do to your teeth?
- Benefits of brushing after eating sugar
- How to brush more thoroughly
- How can I reverse the effects of sugar on my teeth?
What does sugar do to your teeth?
When you enjoy a sweet snack or beverage, bacteria in your mouth break down the sugar, producing acid. This acid dissolves the tooth's surface - enamel - which is the first stage of tooth decay.
As the sugar creates a more acidic environment in your mouth, these acids remove minerals from the tooth enamel, a process called demineralization.
Why does sugar hurt my teeth?
The loss of enamel caused by acids in your mouth makes teeth vulnerable and more sensitive to cold, hot, or sweet food and drinks.
How much damage does sugar do to your teeth?
If you do not brush acids away with a manual brush or a battery-powered tool like an electric toothbrush or sonic toothbrush, the acids can weaken and destroy the enamel, leading to cavities or periodontal disease.
If left untreated, a cavity can spread deeper into your tooth, causing pain and possible tooth loss.
The signs of tooth decay include:
- Toothache
- Pain when chewing
- Sensitivity to sweet, hot, or cold foods and drinks.
Benefits of brushing after eating sugar
The effects of eating sugar can wreak havoc on your teeth. Thankfully, it is easy to prevent plaque from forming on your tooth enamel and around your gums, as brushing after eating sugary foods and beverages can make a positive impact on your oral health.
1. Brushing removes bacteria
If you brush your teeth right after you eat, you will remove the acids as quickly as they arrive and prevent plaque from forming on your enamel. Using an antibacterial mouthwash after eating can also help keep bacteria and acidity away.
2. Prevents an acidic mouth environment
When your saliva has a properly balanced pH, your mouth will be healthier. The pH for a healthy mouth is recommended between 6.2 and 7.6. By brushing and washing bacteria and plaque away, your mouth won’t become overly acidic. This will help to prevent cavities and decay.
3. Keeps your mouth fresh and clean
While brushing your teeth as soon as possible will help to remove bad bacteria, it will also help to keep your mouth and breath fresh and clean. It helps to have teeth whitening products that you can use on the go or when busy. Our hands-free toothbrush is perfect for travelers and busy professionals. We also recommend our tooth stain erasers. They will help you remove bacteria and whiten teeth while working or traveling.
How to brush more thoroughly
It is always a good idea to watch how much sugar you consume; however, there are ways you can immediately improve your brushing routine to combat the impacts of sugar on your teeth.
You can avoid enamel decay and cavities by paying more attention to when and how you brush your teeth. You can also help your smile to look brighter and whiter while avoiding tooth conditions and bad breath.
1. Use the right toothbrush
Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles to reach around your teeth and gums to remove all the sugar. A powered toothbrush, like our GO SMILE Sonic Blue bacteria-killing toothbrush, can remove plaque and kill remaining oral bacteria with its patented blue wave light technology.
2. Brush for 2 minutes
Brushing for two minutes is not an old wives' tale. You should do this twice daily to ensure you clean your teeth thoroughly and reach each corner of your mouth. Some of our brushes have built-in timers, so you always know you are getting a thorough clean.
3. Check your technique
Cleaning quickly in an up-and-down motion will not remove all plaque and bacteria. It may also hurt your gums or your teeth. Instead, start brushing at the gum line while moving in circular motions. Do not grip your brush too hard, and resist the urge to scrub your enamel. Instead, loosen your hands and fingers with a gentle, massage-like motion.
How can I reverse the effects of sugar on my teeth?
If you have sensitive teeth or rotten teeth from sugar, there are some things you can do to promote remineralization and improve the enamel of your teeth.
Tooth remineralization is the natural repair process where minerals bond to the teeth to strengthen weakened areas of enamel.
- Stimulate your saliva flow by chewing sugarless gum. Saliva naturally helps to reverse damage in a natural process called remineralization.
- Eat high-fiber fruits and vegetables.
- Add dairy to your diet as calcium and phosphates strengthen teeth.
- Drink plenty of water to stimulate saliva and wash away acids.
- Brush regularly with toothpaste that contains fluoride to strengthen enamel.
Enjoy a white healthy smile
With a little time and effort, you can enjoy a whiter and healthier-looking smile.
Eating a well-balanced diet and avoiding too much sugar can help to protect your teeth, while there are easy things you can do to strengthen your tooth enamel.
To protect your teeth on the move, shop our stain erasers, travel toothbrush kits, and fluoride toothpaste to keep your teeth clean, strong, and healthy.
Clean Teeth on the Go with Our Stain Erasers
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