Sugar – and its impact on dental health

When it comes to dental health, reducing sugar in foods is usually the top priority. It is no big secret that sugar is harmful to dental health. However, navigating the information jungle of the internet and separating truth from misinformation can be quite challenging. That’s why we have compiled the most important and relevant information in a clear overview. We also want to address the role of fluoride and fluoride-containing toothpastes.

How cavities and sugar are related

With the different types of sugar There is a distinction between simple, double, and multiple sugars. This is a distinction based on the number of carbon atoms in the sugar. Carbon is an important component of sugar. Simple sugars, also known as monosaccharides, are commonly referred to as fruit sugar or grape sugar. Double sugars, known as disaccharides, are primarily household sugar, milk sugar, or malt sugar. Polysaccharides, with long-chain carbon compounds, are also called starch and can be found, for example, in potatoes. The following will primarily focus on simple and double sugars.  

Household sugar is, alongside some other types of sugar, primarily a sweet-tasting, crystalline food. It is often derived from plants and consists of sucrose. In its modified form as glucose, it is involved in almost all energy-consuming processes of the body and is therefore vital for survival. There are various types of sugar, such as glucose or maltose.

The research is now in agreementthat the breakdown of fermentable carbohydrates, which include starch as well as sugars, results in cavities. Certain bacteria produce specific acids through the breakdown of carbohydrates that damage the tooth enamel. Among researchers, this is referred to as demineralization. The tooth enamel is the outermost protective layer of the teeth and protects the teeth from external influences. If the tooth enamel is damaged by acid, the teeth become vulnerable again. This can easily lead to so-called fissures, which are small holes in the surface of the tooth.

What the decisive factor is

Just in the food industry, there is often advertising with naturally occurring sugars. This suggests that it is something good or less harmful. However, this is a common misconception. It has now been shown that it is not the type of sugar that is crucial for dental health, but the frequency of consumption. How often I consume starchy or sugary foods plays a much larger role than what type of sugar or starch is contained in these foods..

A frequent intake of food promotes a frequent acid attack on the teeth and can rightly be referred to as the decisive factor. If one eats too often, the remineralizing effect of saliva has no chance. Remineralizing refers to the enamel-building effect, which is the opposite of demineralization.

How fluoride works on teeth

Teeth and also the so important enamel consist of the two elements calcium and phosphate ions. Fluorides – and thus fluoride-containing toothpastes – help to incorporate calcium phosphates from saliva into the enamel more quickly and are therefore an important remineralization factor. Furthermore, an active protective layer of calcium fluoride is formed around the teeth. This, in turn, inhibits demineralization because the metabolism and growth of caries bacteria are impaired.

Regular dental care and the use of fluorides do not cause major problems for the teeth even with today's common eating habits. The teeth remain intact. However, regular visits to the dentist are still recommended..

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