The Corrosive Properties of Soda

One of the most pervasive substances consumed in the United States of America is soda. Go to any beach, park, or social function and you are bound to see a good number of people nursing a Coke or some other popular soda brand.

Despite its tastiness, soda is actually very bad for our teeth, and has been responsible for rotting countless number of teeth. This is primarily through its high sugar content and carbonation.

If you drink a lot of soda, then chances are you may have some decay lurking in your mouth which, if left alone, could end up costing you teeth down the line. While we can treat missing teeth using treatments like dental implants, it is always wise to be aware of the situation. For this reason, we invite our Weston, MA area patients to read on to learn more about how soda works to compromise the health of their teeth.

Soda Really is Bad For Your Teeth

Soda is fully capable of attacking your teeth and damaging them to the point where the only solution available will be to have them removed. This level of damage is possible due to two main aspects of soda:

• High Sugar Content: The main reason why soda is so bad for your teeth is because of how much sugar goes into a single can of the stuff (About 39g!). This sugar is dangerous because it ends up stuck to your teeth, where it sits until you eventually brush your teeth. You definitely don’t want this, as sugar attracts bacteria to your teeth, which consume sugar and create acids that work to eat away at the protective layers of your teeth. This corruptive process is referred to as tooth decay. If left untreated, tooth decay will attack your teeth to the point where they will cause pain and discomfort.

• Carbonation: This is another reason why you should be careful with how much soda you choose to consume on a daily basis. In order to carbonate a beverage, carbonic acid has to be used. This is much like the acid produced by bacteria on your teeth, just instead of having time to remove the damaging agent, it hits immediately. In fact, every time you drink a soda, your teeth are exposed to a 20 to 30-minute-long “acid attack”. During this attack, the protective layers of your teeth are attacked. Once enough damage is done, your teeth will be open to more dangerous conditions, which could end up requiring those teeth be removed.

You may be thinking that you should brush your teeth immediately after drinking a soda to ensure that these effects don’t hit your mouth as hard. Don’t. Brushing your teeth the second you’re done with your soda could actually make things worse for your teeth. By brushing so soon after finishing your beverage, you can end up pushing the acids on your teeth directly into the tissues they are damaging, making the substance’s effects even more damaging to your smile.

Steps To Minimize Soda Damage

Despite seeing the many damaging effects that soda can have, many people are still unwilling to give the substance up. We understand that it is a difficult endeavor, but we urge you to consider it as your smile will be much more safe the minute you stop consuming the deceptively tasty beverage. If you are not yet willing to cut soda from your live, then we have some tips you should consider when you decide to drink one:

1. First, you should try and always use a straw when drinking soda. By using a straw, you can prevent your teeth from getting a full blast of the stuff. This is likely to result in less sugar and carbonation hitting your teeth.
2.  Secondly, drink your soda quickly. If you are taking longer        than 30 minutes to finish one soda, then chances are you will end up having a second acid attack hitting your teeth, despite only drinking one soda.
3. Finally, try to drink a bit of water directly after finishing your soda. By swishing some water around your mouth, you can actually wash away some of the sugar and carbonation left behind on your teeth.

While these tips can help minimize the damage your teeth receive from drinking soda, we must once again reiterate that the best strategy for saving your teeth from soda is to simply give the substance up.

Treat Teeth Lost to Soda Consumption Today

Have you noticed constant bad breath or toothaches and are a regular soda drinker? Then chances are that you may have developed extensive tooth decay that may require tooth extraction to treat. If you have lost teeth to soda, or are on the verge of losing teeth, then rest assured that Dr. Alaa Alwazzan can treat your condition.

At our Weston, MA practice, our preferred method of restoring missing teeth is with dental implants, as this treatment provides better, stronger replacement teeth for our patients. To learn more about this revolutionary treatment, contact our office and schedule a consultation today. We look forward to working with you soon.