Myth

Sugar in sweets, drinks, food in general all rot your teeth resulting in a rather less then lovely smile.

Reality

Not strictly true. Sugar does not 'rot your teeth'. Bacterium in your mouth multiplies when you eat sweet food. As these bacteria feed on food stuck on your teeth, they excrete acid.

This acid can dissolve enamel and eat through a tooth, right down to the nerve in its pulp cavity. A hole in a tooth like this provides a route for bacteria in your mouth to cause nasty infections in the root of a tooth. This can result in excruciating toothache.

Tags: sugar, teeth, decay