Some foods seem to be able to find their way into every little gap in your teeth. Toffee is a classic example of course, but it isn\u2019t the only one as we will see later in today\u2019s blog. We very likely don\u2019t think about this as a problem while we are enjoying them, but sticky foods can be especially troublesome for teeth, particularly when they contain a lot of sugar. The problem isn’t simply that they are sweet, it’s also what happens after you have eaten them.<\/p>\n
Our mouths have a natural defence system against food debris and bacteria in the form of saliva. It helps to wash away food particles, neutralise acids in the mouth and protect our teeth.<\/p>\n
When food has become firmly stuck to, or in between, our teeth, it naturally takes longer to wash these away. If these foods also contain sugar, as is often the case, it provides the bacteria in dental plaque with something to feed on. The bacteria then produce acids as they break down the sugars, and those acids subsequently attack the tooth enamel. Repeated attacks can gradually lead to the tooth decay that we see all too regularly at the SG Dental and Implant Centre<\/a>.<\/p>\n Obviously one toffee will not suddenly damage your teeth (though it could pull a filling out!) Continued exposure though to situations like this will almost certainly increase the likelihood of problems.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It isn\u2019t just foodstuffs like toffee that are the problem though. Even healthy foods can lead to the same issues. Dried fruits, such as raisins, dates and dried apricots, are often seen as a healthier alternative to sticky sweets as we try to stop our children from over indulging in sugary foodstuffs. Dried fruits certainly contain useful nutrients and energy, but drying fruit concentrates its sugars and this makes them more likely to cling to teeth, particularly around the back molars.<\/p>\n Some cereal bars and snack bars can cause similar problems. They might contain dried fruit, syrup or other ingredients that make them chewy and sticky. A product marketed as a natural or healthy snack isn’t necessarily low in sugar or harmless to teeth. Even savoury products such as barbecue sauces can be sticky so try to keep an eye on what you are eating. While foods that aren’t especially sweet can get caught around crowded teeth or dental work, the difference is that sugar-containing foods provide plaque bacteria with the ready fuel that they need to produce teeth damaging acids.<\/p>\n Every time you eat sugar, plaque bacteria produce acids. Saliva helps to neutralise those acids and allows the enamel to recover, but that all takes time. If you continually snack throughout the day, your teeth will get fewer opportunities to recover between the acid attacks. This is one reason why eating a sweet treat with a meal is generally preferable to nibbling on sugary snacks over several hours. It reduces the number of separate occasions in which your teeth are exposed to sugar.<\/p>\n“Healthy” but sticky<\/h3>\n
Does eating sticky food occasionally matter?<\/h3>\n
Fillings, crowns and braces<\/h3>\n