Does eating sweets cause cavities or is it the fact most people don't brush after eating?

Question

We've been all told that eating sweets is bad for our teeth. Can't your teeth rot on cheese burgers too? The little buggers that feed on sweets can feed on other types of food, right? And what if you brush your teeth right after eating sweets? Plus doesn't orange juice and other healthy fruits have almost as much sugar as a can of soda? Sugar is sugar whether it's refined or not, right?

Answer 1

yes eating sweets hurts your teeth ALOT see the reason sweets are so bad is because they have the type of sugar called sucrose
which gives the bacteria energy allowing them to grow VERY FAST
the other kinds,that are in fruits(such as orange juice)is fructose which charges bacteria alot less, also sweets are known to cause calculas, a hard layer of plaque that forms on teeth which eats away at teeth, all in all sweets are alot worse.(also brushing cant get it all out)

Answer 2

My son gets cavities all the time, he's 9 now. He had major dental work done when he was 5 and minor stuff since. He went a couple weeks ago and goes back again on the 20th to have some things done. The very back teeth especially have an enamel problem that started before he was even born or right after birth that was no way preventable and it's what's causing most of his problems. He brushes, uses his pre-brush rinse and after brushing rinse. I've always had dental problems though, I think every single one of my teeth have had a root canal, crown, filling, etc. and I've always brushed. My husband hasn't been to the dentist in almost 20 years and eats anything under the sun. My ex from years ago didn't even start brushing his teeth until after high school and had 1 cavity (as of the last time we spoke).

Answer 3

You are right that all food left on teeth can cause tooth decay ,however refined sugars are just very good at it . The bacteria causing tooth decay can use the sugars directly as energy sources and thus thrive in the sticky plaque on the tooth surface But remember its the sticky quality that does most of the harm . A rinse with sugary carbonated beverage or orange juice ,unless habitual does little harm because the liquid is in contact with the tooth surface for such a short time . And you are also right to assume that a thorough brushing and flossing after eating sweets will remove the offending food and any residual plaque .

Answer 4

Those things can cause decay, but a lot has to do with genetics, too. I know people who neglect their teeth in ways that make me sick, but have never had a cavity in their life.

I, on the other hand, ate no sweets, and brushed and flossed three times a day, and have had to have two extractions and one root canal.

Sweets are bad for your teeth, yes. How they will AFFECT your teeth, though, will depend on your genes.

Answer 5

tooth decay is caused by built up plaque in our mouths.
it doesn't matter what we eat, because all of the leftover stuff in your mouth becomes plaque anyway. good ways to get the best clean mouth are:
1. brush after eating.
2. floss twice a day.
3. drink lots of water. (it doesn'thas to be plain, make sure it is sugar free!)

Sugar is sugar, and you can't hide from it. no matter how you look at it, you eat sugar in almost everything you eat.