How Soda Saddens Your Smile

Whether you call it soda, pop or cola, this popular carbonated beverage can be refreshing to your taste buds but horrendous for your teeth. While you may know the risk for obesity and diabetes when drinking large amounts of soda, the damage this drink can do to your teeth can be just as unsettling. Unfortunately, people of all ages have been drinking soda for decades and putting their smile in harm’s way with every sip. According to a recent study, on any given day, 60.7 percent of children and 50 percent of adults drank a sugary beverage.

Enamel Erosion

Regardless of whether you prefer Sprite, Coke, Dr. Pepper or Pepsi, the combination of sugars and acids in these beverages can wreak havoc on your teeth. In fact, soda causes an irreversible erosion of your tooth enamel, which is its outermost layer of protection.

The sugars in soda combine with the bacteria that naturally exists in your mouth to form harmful acids that attack your smile. While your tooth enamel is incredibly strong, it will slowly weaken and destruct under the persistent acid baths of soda. These acid attacks are especially harmful for kids and teens because their tooth enamel is still developing.

What is the big deal with enamel erosion? When tooth enamel is eroded, it is softer and weaker. This makes it more vulnerable to decay and infection. In addition, acid erosion can change the way your teeth look. You may notice your teeth are more dull or yellow than they once were after drinking a lot of soda. Lastly, your enamel doesn’t grow back on its own so it is important that you do everything you can to protect this layer of your smile.

Does the Type of Soda Matter?

Don’t assume that clear sodas are better for your teeth than dark colas. They can both produce damage, yet the darker sodas will have a larger tendency to stain your teeth. When it comes to diet soda versus regular soda, resist the temptation to be fooled. While diet sodas don’t have “real” sugars, they do contain their own acids like phosphoric acid, citric acid and tartaric acid that can damage your oral health over time.

Sipping Your Soda While Saving Your Smile

At Laguna West Dental Care, we are realistic about patients drinking sodas. Sometimes you just need a large Coke with your pizza or popcorn. However, we do recommend several ways to minimize the damage these drinks can have on your smile, such as drinking through a straw, drinking more water and maintaining strong oral hygiene habits. Call today to learn what you can do to protect your teeth despite your love for carbonated sodas!