What Impact Does Soda Have on Teeth?

There is no doubt that soda plays a negative effect on your overall health and teeth, studies have been pointing this out for years. Yet, so many people consume it as a daily beverage. Studies have linked soda’s high sugar content to obesity, type II diabetes, cavities, heart disease and cancer. 

While it would be best to end a relationship with soda all together, our dentists and hygienists understand that this can be easier said than done. Keep reading for tips on what can be done if you or someone you know is a soda drinker.

How Does Soda Affect Your Teeth?

Soda affects your teeth in two main ways, thus in dentistry we often refer to soda as the double whammy. Soda not only has sugar that feeds the cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth, but soda is also acidic in that it can be harsh on the enamel of your teeth. 

When bacteria consume soda it creates a process known as demineralization. This is when minerals are pulled from your teeth. Your teeth can remineralize through absorbing minerals from your saliva. If everything is working properly, demineralization and remineralization is a balanced system. Sipping on soda many times throughout the day can move your teeth into an imbalanced state where demineralization happens more often than remineralization. Over time, this can lead to a cavity.  

How Much Soda Is Too Much?

Wouldn’t we all love to know that answer? Unfortunately, what may work for one person may not work for another person. In dentistry, we see that some people drink pop everyday and yet they don’t have a cavity. This is in part because cavities are multifactorial. Genetics, tooth structure, and your home care can all have a factor in this. 

You might be wondering if one drink of soda is ok? The big thing to consider is that pop has no nutritional value and it actually removes the minerals from your teeth that are supposed to strengthen them.. Yes, there are calories in soda but most of those calories are from straight up sugar. While you might be able to get by cavity-free on a can or two of soda a day, is it really worth it? Considering the effects of sugar on your body, immune system, and teeth is a great place to start. 

Which Sodas Damage Teeth The Most?

There really is no good soda when it comes to consideration of your teeth and overall health.. While it might be tempting to go for diet soda or sugar-free soda, doing so doesn’t completely eliminate soda’s problems. Even diet soda is very acidic and can wreak havoc on your teeth’s enamel. Often diet soda has sugar substitutes and other additives that have been added in to help make them taste better. 

While it would be best not drink soda, there are some things that you can do to help minimize its effects on your teeth:

• Enjoy soda but limit the exposure to your teeth by drinking through a straw.
• Enjoy your soda but swish with water afterwards.
• Enjoy your soda but drink water as much as you can throughout the day.
• Enjoy your soda but brush your teeth 30-60 minutes afterwards.

Why Do Dentists Warn Against Soda?

Many of our patients don’t realize that a single can of soda has more sugar in it than the recommended daily adult amount. The bacteria in your mouth love ingesting this sugar and the byproduct that they produce from ingesting it is very acidic. If you’re going to enjoy your soda, we recommend that you do so on a limited basis. When you do drink a soda, use the suggestions above to minimize soda’s effects on your teeth. 

Have other questions regarding sugary drinks? Reach out to our dental team by leaving a comment below!