How often matters more than how much
Every time you have food or drink containing sugar, the bacteria in dental plaque turn it into acid. For a while after each intake, these acids attack the enamel and draw minerals out of it.
Saliva then plays a protective role: it gradually neutralises the acids and helps the enamel remineralise. The problem arises when attacks follow one another without giving saliva time to do its job.
That is why how often you have sugar is a key factor in tooth decay, at least as important as the total amount. A dessert at the end of a meal exposes the teeth less than the same amount of sugar spread over small intakes throughout the day.
The World Health Organization also recommends limiting free sugars (added sugars, but also honey, syrups and fruit juices), for general health as well as for the teeth.
Snacking and sugary drinks: everyday traps
Some habits multiply acid attacks without us noticing:
- Sipping a sweet drink, a soft drink or a juice over a long period, at your desk or in front of a screen.
- Snacking on biscuits, sweets or cakes between meals.
- Sticky foods (toffees, fruit jellies, stuffed dates), which stay in contact with the teeth for a long time.
- Sugar in coffee or tea, several times a day.
- A bottle or cup of sweet drink left with a child, especially at bedtime.
A few adjustments are often enough: keep sweet things to mealtimes, choose water between meals, and pick low-sugar snacks such as a piece of cheese, plain yoghurt, raw vegetables or fresh fruit.
Mint tea, pastries and shared moments
In Morocco, mint tea goes hand in hand with hospitality, and pastries (cornes de gazelle, chebakia, honey briouats, msemen) are part of celebrations and family gatherings. The aim is not to give them up, but to adapt a few habits:
- Gradually reduce the sugar in your tea: your palate adjusts within a few weeks, and you taste the mint more.
- Serve pastries with the meal or the tea, rather than nibbling on them all afternoon.
- Drink a glass of water after sweet tea or pastries to rinse your mouth.
- During Ramadan, chebakia and sweet drinks are concentrated in the evening: remember to brush after iftar and after suhoor.
Tea, especially when strong and frequent, can also stain enamel over time, as can coffee and tobacco. These surface stains often fade with a professional clean. If the shade of your teeth still bothers you, teeth whitening can be considered after an examination.
Acids and enamel erosion
Dental erosion is different from decay: the acid does not come from bacteria but directly from what you eat or drink, or from stomach acid. Softened enamel then wears away more easily, and this loss does not repair itself.
The main sources of acid are:
- soft drinks, including diet or zero versions, and energy drinks;
- fruit juices, lemonade and frequent citrus fruit;
- vinegar and pickles;
- some flavoured waters;
- repeated reflux or vomiting, which should be checked by a doctor.
To limit erosion, have these drinks with meals, do not hold them in your mouth, use a straw if you like, and finish with a little water. Erosion often shows up as teeth turning more yellow (the dentine underneath shows through), edges becoming translucent and sensitivity to cold. Our article on sensitive teeth explains this link.
When should you brush after eating?
Brushing remains the foundation: twice a day, for two minutes, with a fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride strengthens enamel and helps it resist acid attacks. The evening brush is especially important, because saliva flow drops during sleep.
After acidic food or drink (citrus, soft drinks, juice, vinaigrette), it is better not to brush straight away, because the enamel is temporarily softened. Rinse with water and wait at least half an hour, or even an hour, before brushing.
After brushing, spit out the toothpaste without rinsing heavily, so the fluoride stays in contact with the teeth for longer. For children, the amount of toothpaste and its fluoride content depend on age: ask your dentist.
Your teeth's allies
Some foods and habits help protect enamel:
- Water, the best drink between meals: it rinses the mouth without adding sugar or acid.
- Dairy products (milk, cheese, plain yoghurt), which provide calcium and phosphate. A piece of cheese at the end of a meal is a good habit for the teeth.
- Firm, crunchy vegetables and fruit, which require chewing and stimulate saliva.
- Sugar-free gum after a meal, which increases saliva flow.
- Regular mealtimes, which give saliva time to protect the teeth between intakes.
Diet does not replace check-ups: early decay does not always hurt. Regular visits allow it to be found early, when cavity treatment remains simple. In Rabat, German Dental Clinic welcomes you in Agdal for a check-up and advice suited to your habits: you can book an appointment online.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Are honey and natural sugars better for teeth?
Not really. For your teeth, honey, syrups, cane sugar and fruit juices behave like white sugar: bacteria turn them into acid. The WHO counts them among the free sugars to limit. Whole fruit eaten with a meal is less of a problem.
Are diet or zero drinks safe for teeth?
They contain little or no sugar, which limits the risk of decay, but they are still acidic and can therefore contribute to enamel erosion. It is best to have them in moderation, with meals, and to make water your everyday drink.
Should I brush after every glass of tea?
That is not necessary, and brushing too often and too hard can wear the gums. Two careful brushes a day are enough. After sweet tea or a pastry between meals, a glass of water helps rinse the mouth. Cutting down the sugar in your tea remains the most useful step.
The information on this page is general. Only a consultation allows a diagnosis and a suitable treatment plan.
