Is this really the sugar that causes tooth decay?

It is commonly said children to limit sugar and sweets if they do not want to have a toothache. This implicitly means that sugar is responsible for caries. But is this true?

Sugar is converted into acid by the bacteria
A case of bacteria
In fact, sugar indirectly contributes to dental caries. These are just some more bacteria in our mouth, which, by feeding on sugar (and other food debris), produce an acid. It is this acid which attacks and weakens the teeth, promoting caries. Note that the mouth contains a large number of bacteria, but only some secrete acid and are responsible for tooth decay. The most common part of the family of Streptococcus mutants.

Bacteria and plaque
The bacteria are a part of the dental plaque, so that the dough covers the teeth, consisting of bacteria, food debris and saliva. Thus, there is more sugar and other food debris around the teeth, bacteria grow more and more they produce acid, increasing the risk of caries. This plaque is particularly thick after each meal. However, it decreases after brushing. And to get rid of it completely, it is necessary to require regular descaling her dentist.

With your kids: everyone's covered!
Warning, these bacteria pass easily from the mouth of a mother to her child. Thus, 70% of the bacteria present in the mouth of a child are the same as those of its parent (1). This agreement reached 90% in the mother-daughter pairs. To reduce this bacterial transmission favorable to early caries: everyone's covered, do not trade your fork with your child and do not taste his dish with the same spoon.

4 instructions to prevent cavities
1 Brush

Brushing teeth, ideally after each meal, if not twice a day, once before bed. After brushing your teeth at night, do not eat or drink sugary drink. Young children should not fall asleep with a bottle of sugar water or other sugary drink.

2 Drink water

Where it is not possible to brush your teeth or after drinking a sugary drink, it is possible to eliminate some of the sugar and food debris while drinking a glass of water.

3 Hunt snacking

Snacking between meals is also bad for teeth unless you brush your teeth right after.

4. control

Visits to the dentist should be even: at least once a year. The fissure sealing is a technique for caries prevention is aimed at children from the appearance of the first permanent molars and up to the age of 14 (reimbursed by social security). It consists in filling cracks or grooves present on the top face of the molars. These hollow, inaccessible to the toothbrush, are ideal markers for bacteria and food debris