Soda, Sweet Tea and Sports Drinks, Oh My!
As summer temperatures rise, so will people’s thirst. Unfortunately, many people will grab a soda, sweet tea or sports drink instead of water. These sugary beverages can permanently harm tooth enamel, and without the protection of enamel, teeth become overly sensitive, prone to cavities and more likely to decay.
Results from a study by the Academy of General Dentistry, which exposed healthy dental enamel to a variety of popular beverages over a period of 14 days, found that sodas and canned iced tea were especially harmful. Besides containing sugar, they contain flavor additives, such as malic, tartaric and other organic acids, which are more aggressive at eroding teeth. Overall, soft drink consumption has steadily increased over the years and remains on the rise, contributing to an increase in oral health problems, namely cavities. Soda consumption has increased from approximately 20 gallons per person per year in 1970 to more than 50 gallons per person per year in 2004. The American Beverage Association has stated that soft drinks account for 28 percent of overall beverage consumption.
Soft drinks and canned beverages are constant features of daily life, and the approximately $50 billion the industry makes each year suggests it won’t go away anytime soon. However, soda can be enjoyed in limited quantities. Soda consumed at meal times is less harmful than when consumed alone, and continuous sipping throughout the day is more harmful. The combination of sugar and acid can be damaging to teeth and repeated exposure of soda through sipping over a long period of time increases the risk of getting a cavity.
Sports and Energy drinks are not necessarily a healthier alternative. Young adults consume these drinks assuming that they will improve their sports performance and energy levels, and that they are ‘better’ for them than soda. Most of these patients are shocked to learn that these drinks are essentially bathing their teeth with acid. A reported 30 to 50 percent of U.S. teens consume energy drinks, and as many as 62 percent consume at least one sports drink per day.
You should try to drink soda, sweet tea and sports drinks only with a full meal, and be sure to brush and floss soon after eating and drinking. Try to quench your thirst with water, a healthier alternative to soft drinks and sports and energy beverages, and if you have one of these drinks between meals, try to rinse your mouth with water and try to chew sugarless gum afterwards to increase your saliva flow which helps protect your teeth by naturally returning the acidity levels of your mouth to normal.
The post Soda, Sweet Tea and Sports Drinks, Oh My! appeared first on Patriot Family Dental.
