Sugary candies, gums, and sticky treats are among the major culprits for causing tooth decay. In order to reduce the occurrence of tooth decay, your family dentist will probably suggest that you avoid sugary treats. However, some sugar-free candies can actually help protect your teeth from decay.

Why Sugary Treats Cause Decay

Sugary treats introduce high levels of sugar into the mouth. The bacteria that naturally live in your mouth consume sugars, and then create an acidic waste product that collects on the tooth surfaces. This acidic product is known as plaque. If it remains on your teeth for a period of time, it hardens into tartar, which is difficult to remove. [pullquote]…Some sugar-free candies can actually help protect your teeth from decay.[/pullquote]

Both plaque and tartar are highly acidic. The acid in these substances can eat through the surfaces of the teeth, creating cavities. Brushing your teeth helps remove the food fragments and sugary residue that remain behind as well as plaque that is left behind by hungry bacteria. Reducing the amount of sugar you eat deprives the bacteria of their food and reduces the amount of waste they produce, which becomes plaque and tartar.

How Sugar-Free Treats Can Help

Sugar-free treats can help reduce the likelihood of tooth decay. As with any treats, they should be used in moderation, because they lack nutritional value. However, moderate use of some sugar-free foods can actually help keep your teeth healthier.

One of the natural side effects of eating hard candy or chewing gum is saliva production. Chewing sugar-free gum can increase your saliva production, which helps wash away sugars and food particles that might otherwise collect on your teeth. Xilitol, a popular artificial sweetener, also can reduce the acid levels in your mouth, which also helps protect your teeth from decay.

Sugar-free treats can also help if you suffer from dry mouth. This condition causes a lowered saliva production, so chewing gum or sucking on hard candies can stimulate additional saliva flow. Using sugar-free treats to treat this condition can help alleviate your dry mouth as well as helping fight tooth decay. If you have questions about what sugar-free treats are best for you, ask your family dentist at the doctor Family Dentistry at your next appointment.

If you’re unhappy with the way your smile looks, a smile makeover can give you just the right look to boost your self confidence. You and your cosmetic dentist can decide what the best combination of procedures will be for you. Veneers are one of many options you can choose to perfect your smile.

How a Smile Makeover Works

With a smile makeover, your cosmetic dentist will talk to you about what you’d like to see changed about your smile. After this consultation, you’ll decide what procedures will give you the results you want. A variety of procedures can be combined to ensure you’ll be happy with the way your smile looks. Some of the options for smile makeovers include:

• Teeth whitening
• Veneers
• Invisalign
• Dental implants

These can be used on their own or in combination. For example, if you have discolored teeth that are also misaligned, your makeover could include teeth whitening as well as long-term treatment with Invisalign. Damage to the front surfaces of your teeth can be treated with veneers, and if you have missing teeth, dental implants can fill the missing places in your smile.

Consulting with Your Dentist

Your consultation with your cosmetic dentist will address all your concerns about your teeth. You’ll discuss all the treatment options as well as what your teeth are likely to look like when your treatment is complete. This could include digital images of your teeth, before and after pictures of other patients, and molds made from your teeth, depending upon how your dentist approaches your treatment. You’ll decide what procedure or combination of procedures are most likely to work for you, and you might also discuss how you’ll schedule your dental work. During your consultation, be sure to ask any questions you might have. Don’t forget to ask about recovery if you are having dental implants placed, and about the length of treatment if you will be using Invisalign.

Call our dental office at 303-73-1222 to determine which course of treatment is right for your smile.