Soda: What Does It Do to Your Teeth?

what-does-soda-do-to-your-teeth

Well, including soda, soft drinks are not so soft after all. Most people don’t understand that drinking sugary drinks such as diet sodas, 100-percent citrus fruit juices and other sugar-free drinks can be bad for your teeth. These drinks cause tooth decay, dental erosion as your teeth get exposed to acid.

The sugar in soda reacts with bacteria present in your mouth and form acid. Soda and other sugary drinks also contain phosphoric acid, citric acid and tartaric acid that are harmful to the teeth. Every time you drink it, you are starting a harmful reaction that lasts for quite some time. If you drink lots of sugary drinks, your teeth are under constant attack. Learn more about how to stop drinking sugary drinks.

Effects of Drinking Soda

There are two major dental effects known: dental erosion and cavities.

Erosion happens when the acids in soft drinks come in contact with the tooth enamel. Enamel is the outermost protective layer on the teeth. Acids wear down this layer and reduce its hardness by more than 80%.

While energy drinks and fruit juices can go as far as damaging the enamel, soda can damage dentin, which is the layer beneath the enamel. They can even affect composite fillings. Drinking soda regularly destroys the enamel altogether, causing cavities or caries. In such a case, if you do not maintain proper oral hygiene, the results can be unfortunate.

One of the most extreme dental effects of drinking soda is called “Mountain Dew Mouth.” It is a condition caused by very high consumption of soft drinks, including Mountain Dew. The condition causes visible tooth decay, where acids from the soda erode the enamel leaving behind gruesome results.

Children are more susceptible to tooth decay caused by drinking soda since their enamel is not fully developed.

Preventive Measures

The obvious solution is to stop drinking soda. However, most people don’t seem to be able to ditch the habit. Nonetheless, there are certain things that you can do to minimise the risk of damaging your teeth from drinking soda and other sugary drinks.

  • Keep your soda intake moderate. One soft drink a day is more than enough to cause damage to your teeth.
  • Drink as fast as you can. The longer you take to finish your drink, the more time it has to cause damage to your teeth and vice versa.
  • Use a straw to keep the harmful acids away from your teeth.
  • Give your mouth a good rinse with water after having a soda. This will help wash away any remaining sugars and acids that affect your teeth.
  • Do not brush immediately after having a soda. This is because friction from brushing against the vulnerable and recently acid-attacked teeth can cause more harm than good. Wait for at least 30 to 60 minutes.
  • Do not have soft drinks before bedtime. It will not only keep you up but it will damage your teeth.
  • Visit your dentist regularly. Regular dental checkups will help identify problems before they worsen.

Tooth-friendly Drinks

If you cannot quit drinking soda, save your teeth from further damage by choosing soft drinks with a lower acid content. It will keep your teeth from wearing and ultimately protecting them from becoming sensitive. For instance, studies show that root beer has the least effect on teeth when compared to other soft drinks like Pepsi and Coke. Other alternative beverages include milk, black tea, coffee, etc.

Soft drinks like Sprite, Diet Coke, and Diet Dr Pepper are comparatively lower in acid content (but they are quite acidic). All in all, soft drinks are not healthy at all. If you have to drink soda, do it in moderation, follow a proper dental health regime, and visit your dentists regularly.

Author bio:

Roman Beres is an expert writer and blogger with a strong passion for writing. He shares views and opinions on a range of topics such as Business, Health/Fitness, Lifestyle, Parenting and lot more. He works for Dental Clinic and helps you find the best dentist valley stream NY.

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