If you were living 100 years ago, in 1916, and you were the average American at that time, you would be eating roughly four pounds of sugar per year. Seems like a lot doesn’t it?
If you were to line up four, one pound bags of sugar, you would probably think it a daunting feat to eat. Considering it would be consumed over the course of a year, it becomes easier to understand how one could accomplish such a task.
Now, considering that statistic and your current lifestyle, how much sugar do you suppose you currently eat? It must be more than four pounds right? If you are the average American, you are probably consuming between 150 and 170 pounds of sugar per year.
That’s about 40 times as much sugar that we consume per year! It’s impressive to see that stark contrast, but when you consider how much of the food and drink that we consume has sugar added, it starts to make more sense.

What Does All This Extra Sugar Do To My Periodontal Health?

There are a number of different bacteria that live within your mouth. A few of them thrive on sugars.
Others do well with acidic environments brought on by foods like citrus, soda and coffee. With increases in the consumption of sugary foods you can expect a similar increase in the amount of bacteria that feed on those sugars.
These are the same bacteria that build up on your teeth in the form of plaque. If not removed plaque will harden and turn into tartar, which can hurt your teeth and gums. If left unchecked, these bacteria will lead to cavities, gum disease, and even periodontal disease.
Consider cutting down on your sugar consumption and you will greatly decrease your risk of developing cavities and gum disease.

Please contact us if you have any questions about sugars effect on your oral health.