There’s a lot of truth in the slogan “Sip All Day, Get Decay!” Aside from the common side effects of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and weight gain, high-sugar soft drinks can have an ill effect on your teeth leading to cavities and tooth decay.
When the bacteria in the mouth comes in contact with soda, they metabolize the sugar and create acids, which attack the tooth structure and enamel increasing your risk of tooth decay. Whether regular or sugar-free, each sip of soda starts a damaging reaction that lasts for about 20 minutes.
The two main dental effects of drinking soda are erosion and cavities.
Limiting your intake of soft drinks, other carbonated beverages, sports drinks, sweet teas, and fruit drinks can help avoid tooth decay and other health problems. Below are some dos and don’ts.
Do’s…
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Drink soda in moderation
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Use a straw
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Swish your mouth with water after drinking
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Drink ample water
Don’t…
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Sip for extended periods of time
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Drink prior to bedtime
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Allow children to have soda frequently as their enamel isn’t formed
What about sparkling water?
If you like the fizz that comes with soda, you may want to consider switching to seltzer or sparkling water. While sparkling water does have a higher acid level than regular water, it’s not enough to damage teeth, but you may want to limit it to drinking it with meals. If you’re going to be sipping throughout the day, you’ll probably want to stick with plain tap water, since that is typically fluoridated and will better protect your teeth from cavities. Also, keep in mind citrus waters or adding lemon to your drink can increase acid levels and wear away the enamel on your teeth.
