It’s October, which means we’re approaching one of the biggest sugar holidays of the year: Halloween. In honor of the candy craze that comes with this spooky holiday, let’s brush up on the age-old question “Does sugar cause cavities?” We’ll also dive into the evolution of a cavity and what you and your little ones can do to prevent them!

does sugar cause cavities?

Sugar (by itself) does not cause cavities, but it sure plays a huge role in cavity development. The not-so-sweet side of sugar is that bacteria love it as much as we do! Sugar feeds the bad bacteria in your mouth. The bacteria “eat” this sugar by releasing damaging acids that can erode your enamel, alter your mouth’s pH, and cause all kinds of problems for your oral microbiome.

In the news, you might find claims of Americans buying 600 million pounds of candy on this spooky holiday. Not to mention, a lot of this candy is chewy, sticky, and hard…the perfect setup to keep sugar lingering on your (and your little one’s) teeth for a long time. As we mentioned, sugar (especially sugar that lingers around on your teeth) can lead to cavities and other oral problems. These problems can become especially damaging for all the little trick-or-treaters whose teeth are still developing.

To paint a picture of how cavities can progress (and give you the tools to stop them in their tracks), let’s dive into the evolution of a cavity.

stage 1: enamel demineralization

You’ve probably heard us talk about enamel demineralization before. This occurs when bacteria, plaque, and tartar sit on your teeth for too long, releasing acids that can wear down your enamel. Enamel demineralization can cause uncomfortable sensitivity to hot/cold foods, beverages, and even air (when you flash your teeth and suck in air).

The good news is that at this point of the “cavity evolution” process, you can still reverse the damage! It’s so important to listen to the signs and symptoms of enamel demineralization and use proper oral care techniques to stop it in its tracks, remineralize your enamel, and soothe your sensitivity.

The best way to do this is with hydroxyapatite toothpaste! Our third-party lab testing showed that daily brushing with our hydroxyapatite toothpaste remineralizes enamel more effectively than other leading sensitive toothpastes. Our customers have also reported that their sensitivity improved in just a few days of brushing with our hydroxyapatite toothpaste. In light of Halloween, grab a tube for you and your little ones…they’ll love our orange vanilla flavor!

stage 2: incipient cavity

If left untreated, enamel demineralization turns into an incipient cavity. While sometimes hard to identify, an incipient cavity might reveal itself with white spots where plaque has built up (mostly near your gum line or in the grooves of your molars).

An incipient cavity is typically still contained in your enamel, so it hasn’t reached the layers underneath. If left untreated, an incipient cavity can develop into a “hole” that exposes those layers underneath, causing uncomfortable sensitivity and prompting the need for a filling.

If it hasn’t reached this point, an incipient cavity can be treated with topicals (you know we prefer hydroxyapatite over fluoride treatment). Your dentist can tell you if your incipient cavity is still treatable via topical products, or if it requires a filling.

stage 3: small tooth cavity

Once the incipient cavity has turned into a small tooth cavity, there’s no going back. The cavity has penetrated your enamel enough to cause lasting damage, and although it’s small right now, it’ll continue to spread. A small tooth cavity will show up on an X-ray, and it’s important to stop it with a filling before it turns into a medium or large tooth cavity.

stage 4: medium and large tooth cavity

A cavity can jump from small to large pretty quickly, which is why 6-month dental check-ups are so important! While your dentist can usually fix a medium cavity with a larger filling, a large tooth cavity might be too large for a filling. This is because you must have enough strong, healthy enamel to keep the filling in its place…otherwise, it might crack or break while you chew.

For a large tooth cavity, you might require a crown, which covers the entire tooth to prevent further cavity damage and allow you to chew normally. However, a large tooth cavity can progress into nerve damage if left untreated. If it reaches your tooth’s center nerve tissues, it will jeopardize the life of your tooth, and fillings/crowns are no longer an option. This is where root canals come in (or full tooth extractions if the damage has progressed too far). A root canal involves removing the nerve and blocking off any pathways for bacteria to travel into your bone.

Spooky, right? Don’t worry, we’ve got tips to help you fight these frights.

strengthen your enamel to fight these frights

Here are some of our favorite ways to keep the Halloween treats from haunting your teeth!

• don’t let sugar hang around: enjoy your sweets in short bursts, and be sure to rinse or brush your teeth after indulging (especially if it’s a lollipop or particularly chewy candy). This will keep the sugar, bacteria, and damaging acids from lingering on your pearly whites for too long.
• floss daily with our hydroxyapatite floss: this can help you avoid and reverse enamel demineralization in those hard-to-reach crevices between your teeth. Our expanding floss is infused with hydroxyapatite particles to deliver minerals to those damaged areas.
• brush daily with our bamboo toothbrush and hydroxyapatite toothpaste: the nanoparticles in our hydroxyapatite toothpaste will deliver essential minerals to your enamel to help stop enamel demineralization in its tracks. In the process, it can provide much-needed tooth sensitivity relief, so you can sport a healthy smile that feels as good as it looks. On top of that, our bamboo toothbrush is a great sustainable alternative to the conventional plastic toothbrush. The handle is compostable and biodegradable, so you can feel good about not contributing to the 1+ billion plastic toothbrushes (and countless candy wrappers) that make their way into landfills every year.

Our orange vanilla hydroxyapatite toothpaste is perfect for you and your little ones this Halloween! It’s sweet, it’s orange, and it’s ready to fight demineralization at the source.

buy now.