What Does Soda Do To Your Teeth?

Soda is one of the most popular beverages in America. However, you may be shocked to know that just one can of regular soda contains almost half of your entire daily intake of sugar.

Known to cause a slew of health problems, consuming more than the daily recommended limit of sugar (approximately 50 grams) is one of the worst things for your health and your teeth. Even global health authorities including the World Health Organization have recommended that adults limit themselves to consuming less than 10% of their daily calories from sugar — most people drink that from soft drinks before lunch!

What Does Soda Do to Your Teeth?

The effect of soda on healthy teeth is well known by dentists. In fact, every year people visit the dentist office to repair the two main effects of soda.

1. Erosion

This type of overall damage to your teeth is commonly linked to soda drinking. The acidic nature of soft drinks is one of the main reasons dentists recommend limiting your consumption of these sugary beverages.

2. Cavities

Unlike other foods and beverages, soda is able to damage all areas of your teeth and gums. Due to its ability to get in-between teeth, sink into the gum line, and linger on enamel, drinking soda is a quick way to get cavities. Over time, people with poor dental hygiene tend to notice cavities after drinking soda even for a short time.

How Can I Stop the Effects of Soda on Teeth?

Soda pop is oh-so-good but bad for your teeth. That’s because soda is loaded with sugar. Even the diet flavors tempt you with that sweet, bubbly fizz that refreshes you and keeps you going during the day. The problem is that soda (yes, even the diet varieties) cause negative effects on the teeth. This can lead to decay, enamel breakdown, bad breath, breakage, and other tooth problems.

Preventing the negative effects of soda starts with the most obvious of all solutions: stop drinking soda. However, that isn’t always easy to do, especially with so many people suffering from what is known as sugar addiction. In this case, people who consume too much sugar may experience withdrawal symptoms as a result of quitting soda. But never fear because you can conquer your battle with soda – and win!

Just follow these tips on how to slash soda from your diet for better dental care.

1. Replace regular soda with diet
2. Replace all soda beverages with soda water
3. Add fruit for flavor, not sugar
4. Use flavor replacements like Stevia drops
5. Replace sugar with natural baking sweetener in the kitchen to reduce cravings

Until you are able to stop drinking soda completely, use these tips to prevent any further damage to your teeth.

• Follow the daily recommendations for sugar
• Don’t swish soda in your mouth
• Use a straw if possible
• Wait to brush after drinking soda
• Always avoid soda before bed
• Visit your dentist regularly

Talking to a Dentist About Soda

If you want to know what does soda do to your teeth, ask a dentist. Soda contains about 25 grams of sugar per can, and it is well-known to cause damage to your teeth. So, don’t worry about saying goodbye to sugar. Just do it with a smile.

Talking to your dentist about your current dental care routine will reveal where soda and its liquid sugars started to damage your healthy smile.

Reach out to Gables Sedation Dentistry; our highly-experienced dental practitioners can help you develop a comprehensive plan for better dental care. We can design a nutrition plan to slash soda from your diet and heal the damaging effects of sugar on your strong, healthy teeth. Call us, today, to schedule an appointment.