# Sugar and teeth

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugar-and-teeth/534234>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 29, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugar-and-teeth/534234 "2010-03-29T17:52:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugar-and-teeth/534234/1 "2010-03-29T17:52:43Z")

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Since the amylase in saliva breaks down sugars, why is sugar the worst thing for teeth? Why not fat or protein, which presumably sticks around longer?

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**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugar-and-teeth/534234/2 "2010-03-29T17:57:47Z")

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[Amylase](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amylase) breaks starches down _into_ sugars. Bacteria feed on sugar and produce acid, which erodes tooth enamel.

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**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sugar-and-teeth/534234/3 "2010-03-29T18:03:30Z")

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_Ah_. Thanks.