Do Carbonated Drinks Damage Teeth?

Do Carbonated Drinks Damage Teeth?

Jul 20, 2022

High sugar sodas and carbonated drinks are associated with conditions like obesity, type II diabetes, and weight gain. Fifty percent of Americans have carbonated drinks every day without realizing the ill effects of these beverages also affect their smiles because it leads to tooth decay.

The CDC mentions that men are more likely to consume sodas and sugary beverages. Teenagers consume the most, getting 273 calories from them. The number decreases to 252 calories for young adults in their 20s and 30s.

When you have carbonated drinks frequently, the sugars within them interact with your mouth bacteria to form acids which attack your teeth. Regular and sugar-free carbonated drinks contain some acids harmful to the teeth. When you have one sip of soda, you start a damaging reaction that continues for approximately 20 minutes. If you have these beverages throughout the day, your teeth are constantly battling the acids.

The Consequences of Carbonated Drinks on Your Teeth

The two primary dental effects of having carbon drinks like soda include the following:

Tooth enamel erosion starts when acids in the beverages come into contact with the outermost layer of your teeth. The beverages work to soften the hardness of the enamel. Sports drinks and fruit juices also damage enamel, not as intensively as carbonated drinks.

On the other hand, soft drinks can affect the inner layer of your teeth, the dentin, besides tooth-colored fillings that you might have on your teeth. As a result, they cause damage to your tooth enamel, encouraging cavities to develop. In such cases, when you do not maintain appropriate oral hygiene practices, your teeth can suffer extensive damage.

Why Is There a Popular Notion That Carbonated Drinks Ruin Your Teeth?

Carbonated drinks are available in different varieties, some with neutral pH levels. For example, fruit juices have a pH rating of 3.3 to 4.2. On the other hand, non-flavored carbonated water has a pH level of 5 to 6 making it acidic. On the other hand, water is entirely neutral, which is excellent for the teeth. However, when you add carbonation to water, you make it acidic.

Therefore before you decide to open a can of soda of the regular or diet variety, remember you are exposing yourself to highly acidic pH levels of 2.5 to 4.75 with the potential to encourage demineralization of teeth by causing enamel erosion.

Damage Prevention from Carbonated Drinks

The best technique to prevent damage from carbonated drinks is to avoid them altogether. Unfortunately, most people find it challenging to kick the habit. Therefore if you are among them, you must adopt damage prevention techniques to lessen the risk of damaging your teeth. Here are some tips you can follow to prevent the damaging effects of carbonated drinks.

  • Consume in Moderation: if you must have carbonated drinks every day, ensure that you limit your consumption to just one remembering it can also damage your teeth sufficiently.
    Drink Quickly: the longer time you need to have carbonated drinks, the more time you provide for them to create havoc on your dental health. Therefore you must remain determined to consume faster and allow less time for the sugars and acids to create damage to your teeth. At the same time, do not replace carbonated drinks with soft drinks.
    Rinse Your Mouth Immediately after: Flush your mouth with water after having soda or any other carbonated drink. The flushing helps wash away the remaining sugars in acids to stop them from attacking your teeth.
    Wait before You Brush: Do not consider brushing immediately after having carbonated drinks because your teeth are vulnerable, having just been attacked by the acids. Therefore you must wait for at least 30 to 60 minutes before brushing your teeth.
    Use Straws for Drinking: Using a straw for carbonated beverages might seem odd. However, it helps prevent contact your teeth with damaging sugars and acids.
    Avoid Carbonated Drinks before Bedtime: Carbonated drinks before bedtime provide sufficient time for the sugars and acids to attack your teeth and will likely keep you up with a toothache.

If you find it challenging to overcome your desire for carbonated drinks, you must switch to unflavored sparkling water to enjoy the bubbles without damaging tooth enamel.

Finally, if you are accustomed to having carbonated drinks frequently, do not forget to schedule regular appointments with Fox Creek Dental by Espire Thornton to receive dental cleanings and exams without exceptions because it is the optimal way to ensure your teeth are not affected by enamel erosion from the beverages you consume.

©2024 Fox Creek Family Dental by Espire | Privacy Policy | Web Design, Digital Marketing & SEO By Adit

Call Now Book Now