How Do Highly Acidic Drinks, like soda and juice, Damage Teeth?
If you’re like most people, you don’t mind enjoying a refreshing soda from time to time. It can go really well with a meal, or even quench your thirst on a hot summer’s day. But most of us understand that drinking soda isn’t as healthy as, say, drinking water, nor is it always as thirst quenching.
Soda & Juice
Much of our understanding of why soda isn’t exactly great for us comes from the knowledge that most soda has a lot of sugar and calories. Drinking in moderation is fine, but if you only drink soda, you’ll likely suffer from dehydration.
When it comes to your teeth, you can bet that soda is a major danger. You might think it’s mainly colas–the ones that make your teeth feel grimy–that you need to steer clear from. However, pretty much every single style of soda out there can cause your teeth problems.
The issue isn’t so much about added sugars or food coloring, but the level of acidity in the drinks themselves. Various acids make up the ingredients found in soda, such as phosphoric and citric acid, which can also be found in juice. These acids can cause tooth decay and erosion by essentially decreasing the hardness of your teeth, and your enamel can get severely damaged as a result. Not only that, but soda can affect fillings and bring about cavities, due to reducing the overall hardness of your teeth.
As previously mentioned, juice can contain similar acid to that found in soda, because, as it turns out, juice can be just as harmful to the teeth. While juices are healthier to drink (and won’t give you cavities), orange juice and lemonade still contain acids that can cause the enamel in your teeth to decrease substantially.
Tips & Solutions
But just because these drinks can give your teeth trouble doesn’t mean you have to rid them from your life. In fact, there are various ways to make sure neither juice or soda get the better of your smile.
One of the most simple ways of keeping teeth safe is drinking with a straw, which provides the liquid easy access to your mouth by bypassing your teeth. It’s also important to remember that drinking soda on its own does more harm than if you drank with a meal.
If you are drinking soda on its own (and don’t have a straw), keep in mind that each time the liquid hits your teeth, its acids are attacking, as well as mixing with any bacteria in your mouth for more damage. Because of this, it’s recommended that you don’t take too long drinking, as the acid attack restarts with every sip.
One other important and simple tip is to rinse your mouth out with water after you’ve had soda or juice. This helps wash away any remaining acid and sugars that might still be in your mouth.
Make extra sure your teeth are free from harm by visiting the best cosmetic dentist in Ft. Lauderdale, Dr. Patty’s Dental Boutique and Spa. Whether it’s a hygiene visit, a deep cleaning, or just a regular check up, you can be sure you and your teeth will be treated just right. Call us at 954-914-7407 to schedule your free consultation today.