Soda and Your Teeth

Who really doesn’t love that chill fizzy gulp of soda- carbonated drink on a hot day or when hanging out with friends? We certainly all do. Little wonder the rate of consumption of soft drinks as they are generally called is continuously on the rise; especially amongst teenagers.

Little do some know that soda drink is basically sugar in liquid form, and its intake could have some negative blow on your dental health and teeth especially?

To reaffirm this fact, soda is simply carbonated liquid sugar, and due to its two main components which are- sugar and acid, every time you take a soda drink, think of it as you bathing your teeth in sugar and acid all at the same time.

Effect of the sugar in soda

Your tooth has a lot of different kinds of bacteria which are really harmless until triggered, for example, by the sugar in soda. These bacteria feed on the sugar in the drink, and thereby transform into a plaque with time. However, a plaque which is a solid attachment to your tooth is basically a host of bacteria festering on your tooth.

The bacteria in the plaque eventually produce some toxic acid which finds their way into the gum tissues; eventually destroying your teeth if you never brushed your teeth.

Effect of the acid in soda

Soda is known to contain Phosphoric acid and other chemical preservatives which are quite unfriendly to the teeth. To have a hint into the possible effect of these acids on your teeth, did you know that the dentists use this same phosphoric acid (though in higher concentration) to scour enamel. Guess you see where this leads?

The acids in soda, therefore, soften your teeth enamel, and as the enamel continues to wear out, the dentin becomes exposed. This exposure of the dentin as a result of the erosion can lead to pain, toothache, and teeth sensitivity.

These acids have also been shown to make the teeth weaker since the hardness of the enamel has been reduced.

Nonetheless, the major effects of soda on your teeth happens to be erosion and cavities caused by both the sugar and acid contained in soda drinks.

How to prevent this damage

To prevent this damage caused by the intake of soda, it is best to avoid soda drinks, and just drink  fluoridated water, which even helps to build stronger teeth. But if complete avoidance isn’t possible, there are a few things to reduce this damage.

If you must enjoy a soda every now and then we suggest;

• Use a straw when drinking soda- this reduces the amount of contact both the sugar and acid have on your teeth.
• Limit the number of soft drinks you consume per day to maybe just one.
• Give your teeth an extra brushing after you drink some soda.

You need to rinse your mouth with water immediately after consuming a drink. This would help remove or dilute the sugar and acid from your teeth. And more importantly, meeting your dentist for regular cleaning, checkups and dental guidance can’t be overemphasized. Give us a call for a dental cleaning in El Monte, 626-444-2002,