You’ve always heard or read that avoiding soda is one of the best ways to keep your teeth healthy and strong, but what makes soda so bad for the teeth? Sodas have a huge potential for causing tooth decay and cavities, thanks to their high sugar and acid content. Let’s see how soda works to affect your dental health.
How Soda Affects Your Teeth
The sugar in soda reacts with bacteria in your mouth, resulting in the formation of acid that attacks your teeth. The attack typically starts immediately after you sip the soda and it can last about 20 minutes. The process repeats itself every time you take a sip.
You should realize that diet soda contains its own acid, which is also harmful to your teeth. The incessant acid attacks weaken the structure of the teeth enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to decay. If left untreated, the decay can lead to tooth loss.
The Major Dental Effects of Soda
Soda can have two significant impacts on your teeth, as outlined below:
Erosion - When acid in soda gets into contact with your tooth enamel, the teeth’s outermost protective layer, erosion starts almost immediately. In the end, the surface toughness of the enamel will be significantly reduced, exposing your tooth to other dental problems.
Dental Cavities - The erosion of your tooth enamel can lead to the development of cavities. Cavities, also known as dental caries, develop gradually in the teeth of individuals who drink soda on a regular basis. It’s worth noting that poor oral hygiene can accelerate the cavity development process.
Preventing Damage Caused by Soda
It isn’t easy to drop the habit of drinking soda altogether. Most people have trouble with such a commitment. However, you can take steps to curb the habit and protect your teeth. You can avoid the detrimental effects of soda on your teeth by following the tips below:
⇝ Control how much you drink: Drinking in moderation is important, you don’t want to have more than one glass of soda a day. One glass is damaging but you can control the impact of it with a proper oral regimen.
⇝ Drink soda quickly: The longer you take to drink soda; the more time it has to wreak havoc on your teeth. You should drink it quickly, don’t take too long between sips. This will ensure that the acid doesn’t attack your teeth for a longer period of time.
⇝ Drink with a straw: The straw will protect your teeth somewhat as it won’t expose all of it to the soda. When you drink with a straw, the soda won’t interact with the front end of your teeth as much, shielding it in a way.
⇝ Rinse afterward: You should rinse your mouth with water after you have a soda. This will help get rid of sugar and acids that are left over, preventing them from attacking the teeth.
⇝ Don’t brush immediately: Most people would think that brushing after consuming soda will help fight the acids but that is not true. Brushing immediately after can cause more damage due to how vulnerable your teeth are due to exposure to the acid. You should wait at least 30 minutes after having a soda to brush your teeth.
⇝ Don’t drink before you sleep: Having soda before you sleep with allow the acid and sugar to constantly attack your teeth throughout the night.
⇝ Go for regular dental check-ups: You should make sure to visit a dentist on a regular basis so they can detect if there is any damage caused by consumption of soda. This will also ensure your teeth are in good health, tackling any problem that may occur before it becomes too serious.
Keep Your Smile Strong
You only get one set of adult teeth, so it’s important to understand how your choices impact the health of your teeth.
Soda is notorious for causing tooth decay and cavities. You can reduce its effects by consuming it in moderation, using a straw, and drinking lots of water.
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To learn more about how soft drinks are bad for your teeth, contact us today to arrange an appointment with our Specialist . Our Specialist can help you understand why good nutritional habits are important for your oral health.
