Sugar and teeth

Does sugar cause tooth decay?

Tooth decay is a microbial disease in which dental plaque adheres to the surface of the tooth. It consists of a network of proteins (glycoproteins) that contain cariogenic bacteria (streptococci).

Bacteria use soluble carbohydrates to produce acid (lactic acid) that attacks tooth enamel. All carbohydrates are used (or “fermented”) by the bacteria to varying degrees, starting with sucrose, followed by glucose and, to a lesser extent, lactose and fructose. Starch cooked at high temperatures and under pressure is also fermentable.

Recent studies have shown that the frequency with which we consume fermentable carbohydrates, rather than the amount we consume, is the main cause of tooth decay. The amount of time that the fermentable carbohydrates remain in the mouth also has an impact.

Give up grazing!

The more often we nibble between meals, the longer food debris remains in the mouth. This is fermented by the bacteria in dental plaque,  while fluctuations in acidity on the surface of the teeth increase the “risk of decay”.

The best way to avoid snacking between meals is to eat “mini meals” (breakfast and a morning and afternoon snack) in addition to your two main meals. That way you can structure and balance your daily diet.

Will tooth decay become a thing of the past?

Although the consumption of sugar has remained the same in the West, there has been a reduction in the frequency of tooth decay. This suggests that the link between the two is less straightforward than it seems.

Simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates that are added to or naturally present in food represent an important factor in the development of tooth decay. Other factors should also be taken into account.

The rate at which saliva is created and its role as a “buffer” play an important part in protecting your teeth. The length of time that food remains in the mouth is also an important factor. The very significant reduction in the frequency of tooth decay in the West is due to better oral and dental hygiene. Children learn to brush their teeth from an early age, pay regular visits to the dentist, and benefit from school check-ups, the basic building blocks of oral health. And let’s not forget fluoride, which is systematically given to children from birth.

Thank you, fluoride!

Fluoride works in two ways to protect our teeth from decay. Firstly, its remineralising action modifies the structure of tooth enamel and makes it less vulnerable to bacterial attack..  Secondly, fluoride is bacteriostatic, in other words it prevents germs from developing in dental plaque on the surface of the teeth.

At the same time, the addition of fluoride to toothpaste and tap water - and also to table salt in France - has helped keep dental caries at bay.