Why is sugar bad for teeth?
Sugar is bad for teeth because mouth bacteria feed on it and produce acids that wear away tooth enamel. How often you eat sugar matters more than how much you eat at once.
Sugar itself does not directly damage teeth. Instead, bacteria in dental plaque break down sugars and release acids as waste. These acids lower the pH in the mouth, and below about 5.5, tooth enamel starts to dissolve. Saliva gradually neutralizes the acid and helps repair early damage, but this takes time.
Snacking on sugary foods or sipping sweet drinks throughout the day keeps teeth under almost constant acid attack, giving them no chance to recover. Sticky sweets that cling to teeth, like caramel and dried fruit, are especially harmful. Sugary and acidic drinks such as soda and fruit juice can also erode enamel directly.
Tips for healthier teeth
Dentists recommend keeping sweets to mealtimes, drinking water instead of sugary drinks, brushing with fluoride toothpaste and chewing sugar-free gum to boost saliva. The World Health Organization advises limiting free sugars to less than 10 percent of daily energy intake.
Did You Know?
Xylitol, a sweetener found in some sugar-free gum, cannot be used by the bacteria that cause cavities.
This answer is general information, not medical advice. For a personal health question, talk to a doctor.