Ending Of The Sugar Tax? What It Might Mean For Your Teeth

If soft drinks get cheaper, will some of us be tempted to treat ourselves more often?

Although, at the time of writing this blog, it has yet to be confirmed,  it does appear likely that the ‘sugar tax’ is due to be reversed by this new prime minister. This is already causing some criticism from medical quarters but the argument seems to be that people should have a choice about what they eat and drink, despite the fact that this will inevitably have a knock on effect at doctors surgeries and hospitals all over the country. Dental practices too will almost certainly see a gradual increase in people seeking treatment as they are no longer deterred from helping themselves to more sweets and chocolates and manufacturers feel free to add more sugar to their products.

Of course, as individuals, we do have a choice whether to buy these products or not and hopefully, many of our Burton and Ashby patients will have got into the habit of cutting down on their sugar consumption. Whatever your political views though, there can be little doubt that an increase in sugar consumption can only be a bad thing for the medical and dental professions.

A reminder about why sugar is bad for your teeth

The fact is that our mouths are full of bacteria. Indeed, our mouths contain around six billion (yes, billion) bacteria of around 700 types. Many of these are good bacteria and help to break down our food before we swallow it, helping us to digest our food better. It has been shown however, that when some of these bacteria come into contact with sugars, they create acids, and the more sugar that you consume, the more acidity there will be. This acid is very harmful to the enamel on our teeth and will start to wear it away. The enamel on our teeth protects the more vulnerable inner part and once it has become compromised, problems like tooth decay and root canal infections are more likely.

What can you do?

The most obvious thing you can do to help protect your teeth is not to suddenly start buying more sugar heavy products just because they are cheaper. The less sugar you consume, the less acid your teeth will have to deal with.

In addition to this, there are a few things that you can, and should, do to help maintain a healthy mouth.

Drink plenty of water – A very dry mouth is bad for our oral health. Not only does it significantly increase the risk of gum disease but the lack of saliva means that the acids produced are less diluted and will remain in the mouth for longer as there is less or no saliva to flush them away. Generally staying hydrated will improve your oral health and drinking water especially will also help to free some bacteria and food particles that may have become trapped between your teeth.

Brush and floss – It  goes without saying that you should brush your teeth regularly using a healthy toothbrush that doesn’t have worn bristles. Using dental floss is also a great way to clean between the teeth and if you don’t do this already, you should try to start today.

Dental hygienist – Even in healthy mouths, some bacteria will combine with minerals in the saliva and form a hard substance called tartar, or calculus, which sticks to the teeth and gum line. This forms a rough surface which attracts more bacteria as well as staining. This can only be removed efficiently using a scale and polish which is carried out by the hygienist at Alexandra Dental Care.

Although there has been some debate within the dental profession about the effectiveness of the sugar tax (1); for instance many low sugar drinks are still acidic and therefore harmful for your teeth, reversing it entirely may send out the wrong message that sugar isn’t harmful for you. Of course, it tastes nice, especially if you have a sweet tooth, and we are not saying that you should avoid it altogether. The fact though is that sugar is a significant factor in obesity in both children and adults, and is also a major contributor to poor oral health, so reducing our consumption can only be a good thing.

While we will have to wait and see whether this legislation comes into being or not, we strongly advise our patients to think before putting items in your shopping basket (whether real or digital). Try cutting down on sugar, including as a hidden ingredient. It will be good for your health and most certainly for your teeth.

To make an appointment to see the dental hygienist at our Burton, Swadlincote and Ashby clinic, or to make a general appointment with us, please call Alexandra Dental Care on 01283 216347.

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