Can you still get cavities if you don’t eat sugar?
By
Dr Shivam Jha
This blog post will address the topic, “can you still get cavities if you don’t eat sugar” and cover topics like what research says, what is a dental cavity, stages of cavity formation and effective ways to prevent dental cavities.
Can you still get cavities if you don’t eat sugar
Yes, you can still get cavities even if you don’t eat sugar. The other reasons for you getting cavities are poor oral hygiene, regular brushing after eating acidic foods and drinks and bacterial attack on remnants of food debris stuck in between the teeth and gums.
Apart from sugar, foods rich in starch and carbohydrates also contribute equally to cavities formation. Foods and drinks that are rich in acid weaken the enamel by creating pores in them if consumed on a regular basis.
Brushing after eating and drinking acidic foods and drinks, may lead to cavity formation and tooth decay.
What Does Research Say?
A research study concluded that consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages on a regular basis increases the chances of having dental caries.
Another study reported that all sugars can be fermented by the oral bacteria and are therefore a potential cause of cavities and tooth decay.
What Is A Dental Cavity?
Dental Cavity or tooth cavity, is a hole that develops on the surface of the tooth due to loss of mineral content from the enamel, resulting from the repeated acid attack by the plaque bacteria.
Stages Of A Cavity Formation
Consumption of sugary and starch rich foods expose the tooth to acids frequently, resulting in mineral loss from the enamel.
Infrequent tooth brushing habits cause poor oral hygiene, resulting in plaque accumulation.
Plaque is a sticky film containing bacteria that coats the protective enamel of your teeth. These bacteria produce acids by breaking down the food debris and the acids penetrate the enamel leading to formation of white spots on the teeth.
The cavity formation takes place in 5 stages:
STAGE 1: WHITE SPOTS
- Appearance of the white spots on the surface of the tooth as the mineral loss begins from enamel due to bacterial acid attack.
- This stage can be reversed with preventive actions and maintaining good oral hygiene.
STAGE 2: DECAYED ENAMEL
- If the white spots are ignored and no preventive actions are initiated, the repeated acid attacks wear down the mineral and enamel is decayed
- Visible hole is seen and now the cavity becomes irreversible.
STAGE 3: DENTIN INVOLVEMENT
- The decay moves down further and attacks the inner soft dentin
- This is called as Advanced Cavity Stage
- Slight pain and sensitivity starts
STAGE 4: PULP AND PAIN
- In this stage, the decay finally reaches the pulp and irritates the nerves
- Pain, sometimes excruciating, Sensitivity and Discomfort is seen in this stage.
- Root Canal is the only treatment option other than extraction.
STAGE 5: TOOTH ABSCESS
- After pulp involvement, if treatment is not initiated, the infection spreads to the surrounding structures of the tooth and inflammation is caused
- Extreme pain and even tooth loss may result
Ways To Prevent Dental Cavities
If the cavity is just in its initial stage where the white spot is visible on the tooth, it is the time to take preventive actions such as toothbrushing, mouth washing and flossing daily.
At stage one, when the white spot has just appeared, the cavity can be reversed with proper oral hygiene and eating some mineral and vitamin rich foods.
Toothbrushing
It is recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA) to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time with a toothpaste containing fluoride.
It is recommended to brush your teeth twice a day, once in the morning, just after waking up and once at night, just before going to bed.
You must also clean your teeth and gums, each time after you have food but not with a toothbrush. Simple rinse with water is considered good for overall oral health and hygiene.
Following this tooth brushing habit will help you prevent cavity formation in the first place and also reverse a small cavity naturally in its earliest stage.
Do Not Immediately Brush after Eating Acidic Foods
You must wait for 30 minutes to one hour after consumption of acidic foods and drinks. The acid in the food or drink otherwise may erode the enamel layer and regular habit may cause exposed dentin leading to pain and sensitivity and increased risk of developing cavities.
Use Gentle and Short Strokes When Brushing Your Teeth
Use gentle, short strokes to brush your front teeth and thoroughly clean your mouth without abrading the enamel and preventing cavities from developing.
Brush the outside surfaces as well as the back molars and upper areas of your chewing surfaces. Brush the inside surfaces of both top and bottom front teeth by flipping your toothbrush upside down.
Brush your tongue to get rid of any bacteria or plaque.
Use a fluoride toothpaste
Fluoride can greatly help achieve oral and dental health by strengthening the tooth enamel, making it more resistant to tooth decay.
Fluoride reduces the amount of acid produced by the bacteria in your mouth, prevents cavity formation and also helps the cavity in its earliest stage to repair and reverse.
Floss Daily To Get Maximum Benefits Out Of Tooth Brushing
Many people, despite knowing the benefits of flossing daily, just neglect it.
According to a study, flossing is highly effective in reducing the interproximal caries risk.
Daily floss can help stimulate your gums and reduce plaque, leading to lesser inflammation risk and increased chances of cavity prevention.
Mouthwash To Prevent Cavities
Therapeutic Mouthwashes contain ADA listed active ingredients such as fluoride, peroxide, essential oils, cetylpyridinium chloride, and chlorhexidine, preventing cavities from forming and naturally healing and reversing the formed cavity in its earliest stage.
Therapeutic mouthwashes, as the name suggests have therapeutic action and control dental conditions like gingivitis, tooth decay and periodontal diseases. They also help remove halitosis.
According to a research published in the journal of clinical medicine research, mouthwash containing chlorhexidine gluconate or cetylpyridinium chloride showed antimicrobial activity against most bacteria in the plaque biofilm.
Another study concluded that the chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride containing antiseptic mouthwashes had higher in-vitro antibacterial activity against streptococcus mutans, a bacteria found in the plaque biofilm.
Consult Your Dentist For A Dental Cleaning
Dental cleaning also called as dental scaling or teeth scaling is a routine procedure done by your dentist or dental hygienist to remove the hardened plaque called tartar from your teeth that can’t be removed from normal brushing or flossing.
It is recommended that you visit your dentist or dental hygienist twice a year and get a dental cleaning done for good oral health and overall health.
Fluoride treatments initiated in the earliest stages of tooth cavity may help it to reverse and heal.
Eat Foods Rich In Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus And Vitamins To Prevent Cavities
Calcium Rich Foods To Prevent Cavities
Calcium plays an important role in enamel remineralization and saliva production.
The remineralization process is essential for the cavity to repair naturally and strengthen further to prevent any future formation of cavities.
Optimal saliva production acts as a natural cleanser and prevents plaque accumulation and acts as an adjunct in the process of preventing cavity formation.
All thanks to calcium rich foods like cauliflower, nuts, salmon and figs.
Magnesium Rich Foods To Prevent Cavities
Magnesium is essential for remineralization of the enamel as well as to maintain a balance of minerals like calcium and phosphorus.
Magnesium deficiency will lead to enamel demineralization and weakening of the enamel, resulting in increased risk of cavity formation.
Leafy green vegetables, avocado and squash seeds are some magnesium rich foods that you can consider.
Phosphorus Rich Foods To Prevent Cavities
Foods like meat, eggs and dairy products are rich in phosphorus and help in naturally healing the cavity in its earliest stage and also preventing its formation in the first place.
Vitamin D Rich Foods To Prevent Cavities
Vitamin D is essential for calcium and phosphorus absorption in the body and its deficiency eventually wastes the calcium you intake.
Spending a few minutes in the morning sun gives an adequate amount of vitamin D to the body. However, foods like fish and egg yolks are rich vitamin D sources.
Vitamin D And Cavity Prevention: What Research Says?
According to research, children with vitamin D deficiency had an increased risk of developing enamel defects and tooth fracture.
Another clinical trial reported vitamin D to be a prominent agent for caries prevention.
Study published in the journal of dental research, concluded that vitamin D is essential for lowering the risk of developing caries in children.
Conclusion
This blog post addressed the topic, “can you still get cavities if you don’t eat sugar”. We understood what research says, what a dental cavity is, stages of cavity formation and effective ways to heal dental cavities naturally in their earliest stages. The article outlined some foods rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and vitamin D to be consumed for naturally healing a tooth cavity in their earliest stage.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs): Can You Still Get Cavities If You Don’t Eat Sugar
Is it possible to never get cavities?
Yes, it is possible that you will never get cavities in your lifetime. Taking good care of your oral health and hygiene is crucial in such cases with daily brushing twice, flossing once and using therapeutic mouthwash occasionally.
Research studies have shown that increasing the number of times you brush your teeth with gentle strokes, significantly decreases the chances of getting cavities.
Is sugar the worst thing for your teeth?
Yes! Sugar, starchy foods and acidic foods and drinks are the worst thing for your teeth. Consumption of sugary and starch rich foods expose the tooth to acids frequently, resulting in mineral loss from the enamel.
Infrequent tooth brushing habits cause poor oral hygiene, resulting in plaque accumulation. Plaque is a sticky film containing bacteria that coats the protective enamel of your teeth.
These bacteria produce acids by breaking down the food debris and the acids penetrate the enamel leading to formation of white spots on the teeth, an earliest stage of cavity formation.
Why Do I Keep Getting Cavities If I Brush My Teeth?
You keep getting cavities even if you brush your teeth because either you are not brushing with a proper technique or there may be several pits and grooves present on the occlusal surface of your teeth.
The food particles get stuck in these pits and grooves, not possible to remove from brushing, resulting in plaque buildup, acid attacks on enamel by plaque bacteria and finally cavities formation.
Visit your dentist to get those pits and grooves sealed to prevent formation of cavities.
Can I heal cavities naturally?
The dental cavity forms in five stages. First stage is the formation of white spots on the tooth surface and preventive actions like toothbrushing with a fluoride toothpaste, daily flossing and mouthwash can reverse the cavity formation in this stage.
However, if ignored, the cavity development may enter into its later stages where reversal is impossible to achieve and root canal is the only favourable treatment option.
Can Dental Caries Be Reversed?
The dental cavity forms in five stages. First stage is the formation of white spots on the tooth surface and preventive actions like toothbrushing with a fluoride toothpaste, daily flossing and mouthwash can reverse the cavity formation in this stage.
However, if ignored, the cavity development may enter into its later stages where reversal is impossible to achieve and root canal is the only favourable treatment option.
Other FAQs about Teeth cavities that you may be interested in.
Can mouthwash reverse cavities
Can mouthwash prevent cavities
Can you tell if you have a cavity by looking at it?
References:
Park, Sohyun, et al. “Association of sugar-sweetened beverage intake during infancy with dental caries in 6-year-olds.” Clinical nutrition research 4.1 (2015): 9-17.
Marshall, Teresa A. “Preventing dental caries associated with sugar-sweetened beverages.” The Journal of the American Dental Association 144.10 (2013): 1148-1152.
Wilder, J.R., Kaste, L.M., Handler, A., Chapple-McGruder, T. and Rankin, K.M. (2016), Association between sugar-sweetened beverages and dental caries. J Public Health Dent, 76: 76-84. https://doi.org/10.1111/jphd.12116
The Tooth Decay Process: How to Reverse It and Avoid a Cavity. (2018)
5 Amazingly Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Cavities. (2017)
Can You Cure Tooth Decay (Cavities) Naturally?