Is Soda Damaging My Smile?
Drinking a can or bottle of soda a day may be a part of your day-to-day routine, but did you know that soda could be slowly damaging your smile?
Learn more about how soda is damaging your teeth and what you can do to preserve your smile.
How Does Soda Damage Your Smile?
People assume that because their teeth aren’t instantly damaged the minute they take a sip of soda, there isn’t a problem, but there is. Soda causes subtle damage to your teeth. At first the damage may not be noticeable, but over time and with continued consumption of soda symptoms such as sensitivity, pain, and staining may start to develop.
Damage to your teeth is caused by the sugars in the soda. The sugars instantly combine with harmful bacteria in your mouth to create a special type of acid. Once the acid is created, it instantly starts to attack the teeth. That attack lasts 20 minutes. However, that 20 minute timer restarts each and every time you take a sip of soda.
Since the sugar in soda causes the formation of acid, many people switch to a diet or sugar-free soda thinking it is safer. Unfortunately, it isn’t. Diet or sugar-free sodas are just as harmful as regular soda. They still create an acid that can subtly damage your teeth.
What Types of Problems can Occur from Drinking Soda?
A number of dental problems can occur from drinking soda. Some of the dental problems that have been linked to soda consumption include:
- Tooth decay
- Gingivitis
- Cavities
- Tooth sensitivity
- Staining or discoloration
- Tooth cracks or breaks caused by weakened enamel
Many of these dental problems can be fixed by your dentist, but they will continue to happen or progress to worse dental problems if you continue to consume too much soda. If you experience any of these problems, it is important that you not only seek treatment from your dentist but that you work to reduce the amount of soda you consume.
Should I Completely Stop Drinking Soda?
After hearing about all the damage soda can do to your teeth and overall health, many people assume that they need to completely stop consuming it. While that would be great, it is a bit unrealistic.
The truth is you can still consume soda but only in moderation. Having a glass of soda every so often won’t hurt your teeth, especially if you drink water right after it and brush your teeth as soon as possible.
If you wish to continue to drink soda, keep the following tips in mind:
- Don’t consume more than 12 oz. a day
- Drink the soda as quickly as possible as sipping it over a long period of time extends the acid attack on your teeth
- Use a straw so the soda doesn’t come into direct contact with your teeth
- Brush your teeth an hour after consuming your soda
- Quickly swish a little water around your mouth to neutralize any acid that was created from the soda
- Make sure you consume enough water
- Keep to your regular oral hygiene routine that includes brushing at least twice a day and flossing once a day
Speak with Your Dentist to Learn How to Improve Your Smile After Limiting Your Soda Consumption
If you recently decreased the amount of soda you consume, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist for a routine examination. Your dentist will be able to assess the condition of your teeth and determine what, if any, damage has been done. If there is any damage, your dentist can provide you with treatment recommendations that will help you improve your smile.
If you live in the Melbourne, Florida area, you can schedule an appointment with the dentists at Artistic Touch Dentistry. Our dentists provide a variety of general and restorative dental services that can fix any damage caused by soda consumption and help you improve your smile. Call your Melbourne, Florida dentist office today to schedule an appointment.