A lot of the beverages we drink damages our teeth. And most of these drinks are the reasons why we suffer serious consequences. Beverages such as citrus juices, caffeine, and drinks with artificial sweeteners are indeed bad for your teeth. So is soda bad for your teeth? The answer is a solid yes. This website discusses the dangers brought by diet soda to your dental health. We are going to share the specific dental problems that occur due to sugar-free drinks. Read below.

Major Effects of Soda on Teeth

Soda, whether it’s diet or regular, has significant effects on the health of your tooth, such as follows:

Cavities

Soft drinks don’t just damage your tooth enamel, and it also affects the teeth layers underneath such as dentin and surprisingly, even composite fillings.

Once the layers are severely damaged, cavities will be openly invited. The thing about cavities is that this culprit does not develop in a snap. They slowly grow until they cause toothache and other dental problems.

Sadly, a combination of poor oral hygiene and excessive soda intake can result in irreversible damages to the teeth.

Dental erosion

Erosion starts when the acids found in soft drink meets the enamel. The enamel is the outermost layer of the teeth that protects them from bacteria. Once the acids attack the enamel, this protective layer will weaken.

In comparison, sports drinks and juices typically reach this level of damage. But soda can do so much more.

Why Sugar-Free Drinks Are Bad for the Teeth

According to dental experts, sugar-free drinks like diet sodas is the leading cause of tooth decay. Soft drinks that are low in sugar might save you from certain illnesses, but they sure promote dental erosion.

Here’s what you need to remember, the lower the sugar components, the higher the chance for teeth erosion. It’s not just diet sodas; this also includes beers, juices, and sports drinks.

You are probably wondering why. Studies show that sugar-free beverages are high in acid components and low in pH values.

One of the most common misconceptions is that drinking sugar-free drinks lowers the risk of tooth decay and dental erosion. Sadly, even though these drinks contain less to zero sugar, diet sodas can cause damage to your teeth, just like regular soda does.

Moreover, while most of us know that regular soda and sugary drinks such as fruit juices produce harmful acids in the mouth, diet soda carries phosphoric acid. In addition, it also contains tartaric acid and citric acid, which are both very damaging to the teeth, and welcomes bacteria in your mouth. While you sip, there will be continuous acid attacks on the tooth enamel. Over time, this will result in decay.

Choose Teeth-friendly Options

Sodas such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and the likes have been a huge part of many people’s lives. Most of us grew up drinking soft drinks from time to time. So as much as we hate to admit it, it would be hard to let go of one of our favorite drinks. We’re not saying that you should give up drinking soda entirely, but limiting your consumption will help.

Remember that your overall health will also suffer if you drink soda excessively, apart from your oral health. Indeed, diet soda is hard to resist, but you may want to opt for drinks that are healthy and safe for your teeth.

Some of your options include sparkling water, diluted juice, unsweetened tea, milk, or the best of all, plain water.

Minimizing the effects of Soda on Your Teeth

We know that it will be hard for you to say no to soda. Your dentist can advise you to follow these tips to protect your teeth while you satisfy your soda cravings at the same time:

Use straw

Sip your diet soda through a straw to minimize its contact with your teeth. This will also somehow lessen acidic attacks.

Water rinse

Drink water right after you drink soda. By doing so, you prevent the acid from attacking your teeth thoroughly. Plus, it will help in preventing teeth stains. If you have visible teeth stains you should visit https://www.snkdental.com.au/teeth-whitening-in-st-marys to see your options.

Do not brush right away

Dentists state that brushing your teeth right after drinking a soft drink is a big no-no. You will need to wait for at least 30 minutes to allow your mouth to have neutral pH again.

Drink quickly

Drinking soda is undeniably enjoyable. But if you want to make sure that this drink does not hurt your teeth, you might need to drink it fast. The more it stays in contact with your teeth, the more chance it gets to break the tooth enamel.

References:

Sugar-Free Drinks: Are They Safe For Teeth? (https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/nutrition-and-oral-health/sugar-free-drinks-are-they-safe-for-teeth)

Diet Soda vs. Regular Soda: Which is better for teeth? (https://www.greenhillsdentalkc.com/blog/2017/02/diet-soda-vs-regular-soda-which-is-better-for-teeth)