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5/1/2015 9:34:44 AM

Quote :

"It seems that sugar causes cavities, like it's a physiological necessity for them. if you never ate sugar again, you could never brush your teeth again and still get zero cavities ever. I don't know if this is commonly known, but the connection b/t sugar and cavities was weak and stupid enough in my head that I think it deserves mention here."

Uh... no. The acidic environment created by the bacteria that feed on the food particles in your mouth causes cavities. Plaque and tartar make things worse because they create a concentrated acidic environment at the surface of teeth. Over time the acid breaks down the enamel and continues into into the dentin and (if allowed to progress) the pulp of the tooth. The bacteria don't "need" sugar to grow but it helps it helps by promoting the gwowth of the bacteria and also making plaque stickier and more persistent on teeth.

You can also get cavities while maintaining good oral hygiene if you drink a lot of acidic drinks. Diet soda and coffee don't help bacteria grow but they are acidic enough that they can break down enamel and cause cavities if your teeth are constantly exposed to them (e.g. sipping on a drink throughout the day).

Source: my dentist

5/4/2015 2:04:21 PM

well your dentist and my dental hygenist disagree, then. I suppose "dentist" trumps "dental hygienist"

however, Wikipedia says

Quote :

"There are four main criteria required for caries formation: a tooth surface (enamel or dentin), caries-causing bacteria, fermentable carbohydrates (such as sucrose), and time "

I'm having trouble nailing down "fermentable carbohydrate," but while it includes all sugars, it also appears to include some non-sugar stuff (e.g. starches.)

5/4/2015 5:42:49 PM