Everything your mother (or anyone else) never told you about sugar and decay Dental decay is still one of the most common diseases in Australia. Very few people manage to avoid it. Sugar is the Number One cause. Most people do not know the real truth about sugar and decay. We have printed 12 of the most common myths about sugar for your information, along with the real truth. See how many myths you actually thought were true. After you read this and make some changes in how you eat, pass this along to a friend, because this could benefit them, too. Myth #1 - You have to eat some sugar for energy. Fact - The body cannot turn refined sugar directly into energy. The body must convert refined sugar (sucrose) into glucose to burn it for energy. This is exactly what happens to all carbohydrates and fats we eat, like breads, pasta, and potatoes, as well as fruit sugar (fructose) and sugar from grains (maltose). You never need any refined sugar at all. Ever! Myth #2 - Some people just have soft teeth. Fact - Just like the three little pigs' houses, some people's teeth are definitely stronger than others. However, even the little pig with the straw house was doing fine until the Big Bad Wolf came along. People with naturally harder teeth, like the pig living in the brick house, can take more sugar without crumbling. People with naturally weaker teeth won't get decay either if they limit their sugar contacts. Myth #3 - If you brush right after eating, you can brush away the sugar before it causes decay. Fact - The germs in the plaque begin to eat the sugar as soon as it enters your mouth. By the time you start to brush, it's way to late. Myth #4 - I have nothing to worry about because I only eat natural foods. Fact - This is one of the biggest myths of all. "Natural" just means grown from the soil. The only difference between brown or "natural" sugar and white processed sugar is the colour. Sugar is sugar. Myth #5 - I brush my teeth 5 or 6 times a day, so I don't need to floss. Fact - Frequent sugar contacts cause much more decay. The truth is that the number of times per day that you eat sugar is more significant than the total amount of sugar you eat. Follow this logic. The germs in the plaque are very small. Upon contact with sugar they get all that they need. It takes the germs about 30 minutes to digest the sugar and turn it into acid before they are ready to eat more. After the first bite, they are full. If you eat a pie in one sitting, that's one sugar contact. If you cut it up into 24 pieces and eat one per hour, it is 24 sugar contacts. It may be no less fattening, but it is twenty-four times as decay-causing as eating it in one sitting. Myth #7 - If you avoid candy, cakes, and gooey desserts, you won't get decay. Fact - Most of the sugar consumed in Australia , in our opinion, is not in candy and cakes. The problem is that manufacturers put sugar into all sorts of things like ketchup, white bread, spaghetti sauce, mayonnaise, and most processed foods. That Big Mac with special sauce on a bun, is just as decay-producing as the ice cream shake. Myth # 8 - Adults outgrow decay, so they can eat more sugar than kids. Fact - That is like saying that you can outgrow the damaging effects of bullets. In our office, the real truth is that the number of cavities per adult patient is much higher than the number of cavities per child patient. Myth # 9 - Fluoride is mainly for kids. It doesn't help adults. Fact - Wrong again. Adults can get great benefit from fluorides applied to their teeth on a daily or weekly basis because fluoride hardens the outside of the tooth. If the outside is harder, decay will be more difficult to start. Myth # 10 - I can eat all the sugar I want because my teeth are all filled already. Fact - The filling doesn't seal against the tooth as well as a solid tooth that has no filling. Sugar can seep into these cracks more easily, so filled teeth are actually more likely to decay again than unfilled teeth. Always ask the dentist if a cavity is a new one, and caused by sugar or due to a broken old filling so you can understand what your problem is. Myth #11 - You just can't get sugar contacts down to the three a day range. Fact - These days, with all the processed foods, it isn't easy. But now that you have some more information, you'll see how easy it really is. You just need to pick and choose. Some Final Advice Since sugar causes decay, limit the number of times you include it in your daily diet. Be more discriminating. Read labels. If you like a totally decadent dessert, go for it and avoid the other sugar contacts during the day that may not be that important to you, such as sauces and jams. Avoid the accidental sugar contacts. Those are times when you really don't intend to eat sugar, but it comes included in the food you buy. Start to read labels. You'll be amazed. Do substitute fruit or malt sugars for refined sugar as they are much less decay-producing. Go for dental check-ups at least twice or three times a year and have x-rays every 1-2 years. Modern x-rays are not at all dangerous, and they can detect decay when the cavities are still small, before major damage has occurred.