What Soda Can Do to Your Teeth

Soda is almost as common as water these days. However, that fizzy, refreshing drink may be doing quite a bit of damage to your teeth. It is commonly known that soda can add unwanted extra calories to your diet, as well as increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. With only one can a day, soda can even increase the risk of suffering a heart attack by almost 50 percent. According to accumulated research, soda can also be as damaging to your teeth as battery acid is.

Several factors are responsible for this damage, which begins within minutes of drinking it. Sodas are high in phosphoric acid, which is also used by dentists to roughen enamel before certain procedures. This acid washes over your teeth and erodes the enamel, weakening the tooth’s structure. If you drink sugar-sweetened soda, the sugar then feeds the oral bacteria that are present in the mouth, which then produce acid that attacks the enamel, as well. As a result, the enamel is softened and then eroded. Ultimately, this can leave teeth sensitive and painful. You may also be vulnerable to tooth decay. While this may not be as serious of a problem, soda also contains dyes and artificial colors, which can seep into the softened enamel and leave dark stains behind.

How can you stop the damage? The best option is to quit soda altogether, or to make sure you brush your teeth 30 minutes after drinking it. Instead, drink milk or tap water that is fluoridated. If you are not ready to give up your fizzy fix, then consider diluting fruit juice with carbonated water for a flavorful spritzer. Juice does contain some acid, so make sure to go easy on this drink, also. Skip the energy drinks and power drinks, as both of which also contain high concentrations of acid and sugar.

Call us today to learn more or to schedule your appointment with our dentist in Hawthorne.

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