Drinking soda causes a slew of effects on your teeth. If you have a problematic soda habit, cutting down on your consumption will benefit your smile as well as your overall health. Here is a general overview of the issues that soda can cause, but you should also discuss this with your dentist to get more specific information.
Soda is highly acidic, and any acidic food or beverage can accelerate erosion of your enamel. It’s important to remember that both regular and diet sodas contain acids, so ditching a cola sweetened with sugar to one with a zero-calorie sweetener won’t dramatically benefit your teeth.
In addition to contributing to enamel breakdown, soft drinks also affect the underlying dentin layer and contribute to more advanced tooth decay. In fact, many heavy soda drinkers have more cavities than the average person and need more treatment from their dentist.
If you want to include reasonable amounts of soda in your diet, you can take precautions to limit the damage the drink can do. For example, if you only drink soda through a straw, you will limit the direct contact between the liquid and your teeth, which gives it less of an opportunity to cause harm. Other preventive actions include rinsing your mouth immediately after drinking soda and waiting for at least 30 minutes between brushing your teeth. That last guideline may seem counterintuitive, but if you brush your teeth too soon after consuming something acidic, the process of brushing may also contribute to enamel erosion.
Additionally, if you drink soda regularly, it is even more important to see your dentist for professional exams and cleanings on a regular basis. Obtaining routine care at regular intervals makes it more likely that any soda-related tooth decay will be identified early, before it can do significant damage to your teeth.
Excessive soda consumption can harm your teeth, so cut back on this habit if you want to protect your smile. Speak with one of our knowledgeable staff members for pointers on limiting soda’s damage to your teeth. Call us at Barry H. Buchanan, DDS, today!