Sip All Day, Get Decay
by Wisconsin Dental Association, Inc. brochure
How much pop do you drink in an average week?
Soft drinks, juice, and sport drinks are no longer an occasional treat. They've become a daily habit for a growing number of people, especially kids, teens and young adults. A steady diet of soft drinks or other sweetened beverages is a leading cause of tooth decay.
Here's How Children Get Cavities
Sugar in pop combines with bacteria in your mouth to form acid. Diet or "sugar-free" pop contains its own acid. Acid in soft drinks, whether they contain sugar or not, is the primary cause of weakening tooth enamel.
Fruit juice and sport drinks contain large amounts of sugar, even if they are all natural. This can be just as destructive to teeth as soda pop.
The acid produced from sugar in beverages attacks your teeth. Each acid attack lasts about 20 minutes. The acid attack starts over again with every sip. Ongoing acid attacks weaken your tooth enamel and eventually lead to the formation of cavities.
Bacteria in your mouth cause cavities when tooth enamel is damaged. If you have a receding gum line, acid does more damage below the gum line than above it. This is particularly a concern for adults.
Tips on How To Reduce Decay
Drink soft drinks in moderation. Don't sip for extended periods of time. Ongoing sipping prolongs sugar and acid attacks on your teeth. Use a straw to keep the sugar away from your teeth. After drinking, swish your mouth out with water to dilute the sugar.
Never drink pop or juice before bedtime because the liquid pools in your mouth and coats your tongue and teeth with sugar and acid. Read labels. Regular pop is high in sugar. And diet or "sugar-free" pop is high in acid. Sugar and acid are bad for your teeth.
Drink water instead of pop. It has no sugar, no acid and no calories. Get regular checkups and cleanings to remove bacteria buildup (plaque). Floss too. Use a fluoride toothpaste to protect your teeth. |
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