All I can eat?
September 26, 2010 8:16 PM Subscribe
If I practice good dental hygiene, can I eat as much candy as I want?
From a purely dental-health perspective, if I flossed and used mouthwash daily while brushing my teeth thoroughly twice a day, could I eat as much sugar as I want?
From a purely dental-health perspective, if I flossed and used mouthwash daily while brushing my teeth thoroughly twice a day, could I eat as much sugar as I want?
Sugars that hang around on your teeth for extended periods are the worst, like sodas being sipped constantly or chewing gum with sugar. Some sugars like honey tend to cling and not get easily washed off by saliva. The fact of eating candy isn't the issue so much as how. Popping in a new candy every fifteen minutes or so all afternoon is probably bad. Eating them all at once less so, especially if then you brush. However, as dfriedman said, everyone's teeth are different.
posted by caddis at 8:34 PM on September 26, 2010
posted by caddis at 8:34 PM on September 26, 2010
It really is different for everyone. For example, I've always had a really bad sugar tooth, neglected brushing more than I should, and recently didn't go to the dentist for about 10 years. When I finally did go, I didn't have any cavities, and they said my teeth were perfectly healthy, they just needed a thorough cleaning. I have other friends where if they eat perfectly and brush multiple times a day, they'll still get cavities, although they would get more if they didn't watch what they ate and brush as diligently. This doesn't quite get at your question though, as it seems to be, assuming nothing about the status of your teeth, will brushing and flossing will take care of unlimited sugar intake, so there's no harm done, just in case it would be harmful. My guess is no, because you have time between flossing and brushing that gives the sugar time to sit there for hours. I'm not a dentist, but I'm thinking that for anyone's teeth, this isn't ideal.
posted by SpacemanStix at 8:42 PM on September 26, 2010
posted by SpacemanStix at 8:42 PM on September 26, 2010
Brush twice a day, but mind your technique. Brushing should take two minutes (I sing "happy birthday" to myself for each quadrant of my mouth), use up-and-down motions, and be neither too hard nor too soft on your gums. And, yes, floss and use mouthwash for extra points.
Cooked potato starches actually stick to your teeth more than sugars. So from a dental health perspective, eat all the easily-dissolved chocolate you want, and save your extra tooth-brushing energy for after you eat some chips.
Like others have mentioned, everyone was dealt a different lot in matters of health, but it can't hurt to try. The benefit of good dental hygiene extends to heart health as well, so enjoy!
posted by nicodine at 8:55 PM on September 26, 2010
Cooked potato starches actually stick to your teeth more than sugars. So from a dental health perspective, eat all the easily-dissolved chocolate you want, and save your extra tooth-brushing energy for after you eat some chips.
Like others have mentioned, everyone was dealt a different lot in matters of health, but it can't hurt to try. The benefit of good dental hygiene extends to heart health as well, so enjoy!
posted by nicodine at 8:55 PM on September 26, 2010
Let me be your cautionary tale. Last week the dentist told me I had 14 cavities. 14! I brush about 6 times a day. I put sugar in my coffee, but in general I don't have a sweet tooth. I don't know if brushing will protect your teeth from decay, but I do know that it didn't protect mine.
posted by january at 9:02 PM on September 26, 2010
posted by january at 9:02 PM on September 26, 2010
Some people will get cavities no matter what they eat. (I am one of them. Sigh.) Some people will never get them and could eat the entire candy store. It depends on your genetics. If you always have cavities every time you go to the dentist, then you're probably not one of those people.
Though you could just try doing a thorough teeth cleaning after you eat every single time even after lunch and see how that goes.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:17 PM on September 26, 2010
Though you could just try doing a thorough teeth cleaning after you eat every single time even after lunch and see how that goes.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:17 PM on September 26, 2010
From the dental health POV, maybe yes, maybe no, as others have said. Another risk of eating a lot of candy is that it may leave you feeling satisfied and full, and less interested in eating the other nutritious food you need.
posted by Bruce H. at 9:20 PM on September 26, 2010
posted by Bruce H. at 9:20 PM on September 26, 2010
Last week the dentist told me I had 14 cavities. 14! I brush about 6 times a day.
Brushing 6 times a day is a little extreme. I eat about 6 times a day so I asked my dentist if I should start brushing more than twice a day. The dentist told me not to brush more than 3-4 times a day as it can cause the gums to recede AND eat away enamel. So maybe you should stop brushing so much.
For the OP,
One of the biggest causes of cavities for people who practice good dental hygiene is molars that have deep crevices\fissures. You should ask your dentist if having a sealant applied would be a good idea based on your teeth.
Bonus tip while we're on the subject:
I eat about 1lb of broccoli everyday and it gets deep between my teeth which is the main reason I was thinking about brushing more. My dentist just told me that it's great for teeth. It helps get into areas that you should floss and works as a natural cleaner throughout the day without having any of it's own plaque buildup. The bacteria in your mouth cannot break the broccoli down into simple sugars.
Also, cinnamon naturally fights bad mouth bacteria.
posted by zephyr_words at 9:26 PM on September 26, 2010
Brushing 6 times a day is a little extreme. I eat about 6 times a day so I asked my dentist if I should start brushing more than twice a day. The dentist told me not to brush more than 3-4 times a day as it can cause the gums to recede AND eat away enamel. So maybe you should stop brushing so much.
For the OP,
One of the biggest causes of cavities for people who practice good dental hygiene is molars that have deep crevices\fissures. You should ask your dentist if having a sealant applied would be a good idea based on your teeth.
Bonus tip while we're on the subject:
I eat about 1lb of broccoli everyday and it gets deep between my teeth which is the main reason I was thinking about brushing more. My dentist just told me that it's great for teeth. It helps get into areas that you should floss and works as a natural cleaner throughout the day without having any of it's own plaque buildup. The bacteria in your mouth cannot break the broccoli down into simple sugars.
Also, cinnamon naturally fights bad mouth bacteria.
posted by zephyr_words at 9:26 PM on September 26, 2010
I would say no. The basic problem is you can never really clean the entire mouth. Even if you brush and floss and rinse and use interdental pics and use a water pic, there's going to be some nook in your mouth you miss and bacterial will take up root there.
posted by chairface at 9:28 PM on September 26, 2010
posted by chairface at 9:28 PM on September 26, 2010
Nope. I floss and brush twice a day and I still have awful teeth. I mean, I think your question is asking "will my teeth definitely be okay if I do this?" Maybe YOURS will be, but it's no guarantee.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 9:46 PM on September 26, 2010
posted by Solon and Thanks at 9:46 PM on September 26, 2010
If you eat too much sugar, and end up joining the 7.8 percent of the US population (and a number of my loved ones) who live with diabetes, this will make you more susceptible to gum disease. According to the Mayo Clinic:
Diabetes reduces your ability to fight bacteria, which can cause more plaque to build up on your teeth.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes/DA00013
posted by surenoproblem at 10:46 PM on September 26, 2010
Diabetes reduces your ability to fight bacteria, which can cause more plaque to build up on your teeth.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes/DA00013
posted by surenoproblem at 10:46 PM on September 26, 2010
...but you should also swish with water throughout the day.
posted by palacewalls at 10:52 PM on September 26, 2010
posted by palacewalls at 10:52 PM on September 26, 2010
It's an individual thing. I'm 26 and I brush most mornings but not every night. I have perfect teeth and my diet consists largely of candy, to be fair. When I get bored, I bake brownies or make ice cream or slice that chilled pineapple or you name it. And then I eat it, together with friends. No cavities.
posted by halogen at 11:39 PM on September 26, 2010
posted by halogen at 11:39 PM on September 26, 2010
There's also the problem of digesting that much sugar on a regular basis, which isn't good for your health and can lead to other symptoms and problems, the least of which include your teeth and gums. In other words, eating candy all may negatively affect your mouth directly and indirectly.
posted by iamkimiam at 12:52 AM on September 27, 2010
posted by iamkimiam at 12:52 AM on September 27, 2010
Let me be your cautionary tale. Last week the dentist told me I had 14 cavities. 14! I brush about 6 times a day. I put sugar in my coffee, but in general I don't have a sweet tooth.
And then there's this guy, Paul Rudnick, profiled a year ago in the NYTimes for his all-candy diet.
"... a horrible truth no parent wants published: It is possible, it seems, to live on candy. Mr. Rudnick is the living proof. At 51, 5-foot-10 and an enviably lean 150 pounds, Mr. Rudnick does not square with the inevitable mental image of a man who has barely touched a vegetable other than candy corn in nearly a half-century. Apparently, one can not only live on a dessert island, but can also do it happily and long."
posted by danceswithlight at 2:09 AM on September 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
And then there's this guy, Paul Rudnick, profiled a year ago in the NYTimes for his all-candy diet.
"... a horrible truth no parent wants published: It is possible, it seems, to live on candy. Mr. Rudnick is the living proof. At 51, 5-foot-10 and an enviably lean 150 pounds, Mr. Rudnick does not square with the inevitable mental image of a man who has barely touched a vegetable other than candy corn in nearly a half-century. Apparently, one can not only live on a dessert island, but can also do it happily and long."
posted by danceswithlight at 2:09 AM on September 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
You can eat as much sugar as you want; it's the duration of sugar consumption that affects your teeth. So if you eat 15 pounds of sugar and immediately brush your teeth (or eat a xylitol mint, etc.), then you're fine. Well, your teeth anyway. If you sip a single soda the entire day, then your teeth are exposed to the sugar and acid for the entire day, and eventually dissolve.
You do need to clean off plaque twice a day by brushing, but you also need to remove the sugar from your teeth as soon as possible.
posted by jrockway at 3:20 AM on September 27, 2010
You do need to clean off plaque twice a day by brushing, but you also need to remove the sugar from your teeth as soon as possible.
posted by jrockway at 3:20 AM on September 27, 2010
The answer also depends on what kind of candy you eat. Something gooey (like taffy) that sticks to your teeth for a while is worse than something like a piece of chocolate that gets off your teeth relatively fast.
posted by TedW at 6:21 AM on September 27, 2010
posted by TedW at 6:21 AM on September 27, 2010
Watch this horrifying video to learn about the microscopic craters that exist on your supposedly smooth teeth. I believe those that seem to avoid cavities have smoother teeth and that others with deeper pits where sugar can hide tend to court decay regardless of diet or dental hygiene. After viewing this video I started brushing in a much lighter fashion with the belief that pushing down too hard would actually force the sugar down deeper into those craters.
posted by any major dude at 6:51 AM on September 27, 2010
posted by any major dude at 6:51 AM on September 27, 2010
The short answer is no.
The long answer has to do with odds, genetics, the kind of candy, etc.
posted by Leta at 6:59 AM on September 27, 2010
The long answer has to do with odds, genetics, the kind of candy, etc.
posted by Leta at 6:59 AM on September 27, 2010
The singular of data is anecdote!
I have horrific teeth. Just horrific. Always have. I've managed to pull myself out of "Hmm, we can probably save all your teeth" land by brushing with a Sonicare and prescription toothpaste, plus flossing, 2-3 times a day.
Earlier this year, I had to go on a low-carb diet to avoid gestational diabetes. When last I went to the dentist -- late in the second trimester of pregnancy, when one's teeth and gums traditionally go right to hell -- the hygienist commented that she had never, NEVER seen my teeth look so good. The exam took virtually no time, my gums didn't bleed at all for the first time in my adult life.
The only difference is my sugar consumption. So, sadly, I think the answer to your question is "no."
posted by KathrynT at 8:41 AM on September 27, 2010
I have horrific teeth. Just horrific. Always have. I've managed to pull myself out of "Hmm, we can probably save all your teeth" land by brushing with a Sonicare and prescription toothpaste, plus flossing, 2-3 times a day.
Earlier this year, I had to go on a low-carb diet to avoid gestational diabetes. When last I went to the dentist -- late in the second trimester of pregnancy, when one's teeth and gums traditionally go right to hell -- the hygienist commented that she had never, NEVER seen my teeth look so good. The exam took virtually no time, my gums didn't bleed at all for the first time in my adult life.
The only difference is my sugar consumption. So, sadly, I think the answer to your question is "no."
posted by KathrynT at 8:41 AM on September 27, 2010
Sugar tends to get the blame for cavities, when, in fact, it's also sticky starches that cause tooth decay. Archeologists have found that hunter-gatherers had few cavities - but when people started depending heavily on grains like corn and wheat, in agricultural settlements, EVERYONE got cavities. And this was before the era of cheap sugar. Hunter-gatherers mostly ate fruit, vegetables, roots and meat. Nothing really that stuck to their teeth, so very little for the bacteria to feed on.
So part of avoiding cavities is to make sure food doesn't stick to your teeth. One way to do this without brushing 6 times a day is to eat a nice, crisp apple, or munch on raw vegetables, after your meal. Crunchy fruits and vegetables - raw cauliflower, carrots, apples, and the like - are kind of like natural scrub brushes for your teeth (and your digestive system as well).
Dry mouth is another reason good teeth go bad. If you are on medication that dries out your mouth (some antidepressants are notorious for this) then you've got to be extra-careful about your teeth.
Finally - some people have awful teeth no matter how well they take care of them, and some people have sturdy teeth that can take a lot of abuse. There are people who just have hereditary bad luck and need to pamper their teeth and put the equivalent of a new car into their mouths just to have pain-free teeth good enough to chew with.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 10:01 AM on September 28, 2010
So part of avoiding cavities is to make sure food doesn't stick to your teeth. One way to do this without brushing 6 times a day is to eat a nice, crisp apple, or munch on raw vegetables, after your meal. Crunchy fruits and vegetables - raw cauliflower, carrots, apples, and the like - are kind of like natural scrub brushes for your teeth (and your digestive system as well).
Dry mouth is another reason good teeth go bad. If you are on medication that dries out your mouth (some antidepressants are notorious for this) then you've got to be extra-careful about your teeth.
Finally - some people have awful teeth no matter how well they take care of them, and some people have sturdy teeth that can take a lot of abuse. There are people who just have hereditary bad luck and need to pamper their teeth and put the equivalent of a new car into their mouths just to have pain-free teeth good enough to chew with.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 10:01 AM on September 28, 2010
When my dentist was giving me the "you really shouldn't drink so much soda" lecture, he told me that if I did continue drinking soda, it would be better to drink it quickly and then rinse my mouth with water to get rid of some of the sugar residue. That way you don't have to brush too much, which can be bad for your teeth, but you can help solve the problem a little bit. However, that's not going to totally solve your problem, so I think the answer to your question is either "no" or "it depends."
posted by you zombitch at 6:56 PM on September 28, 2010
posted by you zombitch at 6:56 PM on September 28, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dfriedman at 8:26 PM on September 26, 2010