What are “SugarBugs” and How Do I Get Them To Go Away?
At Reagin Orthodontics we are committed to good oral hygiene and that means you need to make sure you are getting the sugar bugs off of your teeth. Sugar Bugs or plaque, is a combination of the food you eat with bacteria already found in your mouth.
Plaque is a thin, sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that constantly forms on everyone’s teeth. As plaque increases, it becomes gooey white stuff – you can see it and sometimes feel it on your teeth (they feel kind of “fuzzy”). Bacteria (“Sugar Bugs & Starch Slugs”) live in the plaque. Whenever you eat, the sugars and starches in your food cause the bacteria to produce damaging acids that attack your tooth enamel and gums. With time and repeated acid attacks the tooth enamel breaks down, causing cavities, permanent marks and stains on teeth.
Crowded teeth provide these sugar bugs more places to hide and allow them to do more damage to your overall oral health. Braces or Invisalign can be used to eliminate the crowding and make your teeth easier to clean. The win-win is straight teeth and good hygiene.
To make sure none of these things happen to your smile, make a habit of brushing and flossing after you eat anything, and keep in mind that straight teeth are the easiest to keep clean!
For a complimentary consultation call 871-4411. No referral necessary.
