Summer Drinks May Have a Harmful Effect on Your Teeth
Most of us are careful about how much sugar we eat, so we avoid candy, desserts, and other sweets. Sugary drinks such as soda, citrus juices, and energy drinks can have more sugar than candy and sweets and can be very damaging to your teeth. The bottom line is that sugar in ANY form is harmful to tooth enamel.
Sugar feeds the bacteria to create enamel-eating plaque, which eventually weakens your tooth structure. Even though you avoid eating sugary treats, you could still be damaging your teeth by what you drink.
Does This Mean I Can Never Drink Soft Drinks?
There are ways to enjoy a soft drink, but moderation is the key. Our society promotes giant drinks, refillable cups and punch cards for free drinks after buying copious amounts of sugar-filled soda.
Those 44 oz. drinks aren’t easy to swallow in a few gulps, so the tendency is to sip on your drink over a period of time. The Wisconsin Dental Association coined the phrase, “Sip All Day, Get Decay”. Although this may seem like just another clever slogan, the truth is that sipping soft drinks all day subjects your teeth to a barrage of acids and sugars that are harmful to your tooth enamel.
How to Help Avoid Decay from What You Drink
- Drink lots of water throughout the day (at least 8 glasses per day).
- If you are going to drink a soft drink, do so in moderation (no more than a 12 oz. a day – that is a medium drink with ice at a fast-food restaurant).
- Use a straw to keep the sugar and acids away from your teeth.
- After drinking soda, rinse your mouth with water to dilute the acids and sugars.
- Brush your teeth 30-60 minutes after drinking soda. This will protect tooth enamel from acids and sugars in the soda.
Avoid the Following:
- Don’t sip your drink for long periods of time. Every time you sip your soda, you start a damaging acidic reaction. Sugars interact with bacteria in your mouth to form acid that lasts for about 20 minutes. If you sip your drink all day, your teeth are under constant attack.
- Don’t drink soda just before bedtime. Soft drinks lower your body’s pH level and when the pH level of your saliva is below 5.5, your tooth enamel will begin to erode. Drinking soda at that time of day doesn’t allow time to increase the pH level in your body. Drinking water helps to regulate your pH level, but most people avoid drinking water just before bed.
- Avoid brushing your teeth immediately after meals. Brushing on enamel that’s been softened by your food and drink could end up damaging your teeth.
- Don’t use soft drinks, sports drinks, or fruit juice as a substitute meal. Some of these beverages literally rot your teeth.
Other Drinks Can Also Damage Your Teeth
- Fruit Juices – Most fruit juice is concentrated, along with the sugars, it exposes you to a lot more acid than the fruit in its whole state.
- Iced Tea – Most iced teas are loaded with sugar and are worse than soda.
- Diet Soda – Although diet soda is sugar-free, it still overwhelms your tooth enamel with acid.
Check on the Health of Your Teeth
Make an appointment with Dr. Angela S. Evanson, DDS, by calling (720) 409-0008 or contact us online for a dental checkup to see how your teeth are faring. Regular dental check-ups every six months will help maintain your oral health.
In the meantime, drink water to quench your thirst. Water is good for your mouth and teeth and for your overall health!
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