Soda lovers everywhere will hate to hear it, but eliminating your favorite drink from your diet can have all kinds of benefits when it comes to your health. This may not come as news to most people. Most of us grew up with mothers, teachers and dentists telling us to avoid too much sugar, as it will surely cause tooth decay and cavities. What was true for us a child remains true as an adult.
Soda is not the only culprit here. All sugary drinks can cause damage to our teeth and gums. Because so many people consume them, sugary drinks affect people of all ages, from the very young to the elderly.
Related: Oral Health Affects Overall Health.
The problem starts with the introduction of sugar to the mouth. When sugar comes in contact with the bacteria in the mouth, they work together to produce acids that begin to eat away at the enamel of our teeth. This enamel is essential in protecting our teeth from decay. The higher concentration of sugar in our drinks leads to more production of enamel eating acid.
Unfortunately, there are very few drinks that are popular today that do not have a high level of sugar. Soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, and even juices contain sugar and acid in varying amounts that can work against us.
Related: Which Mouthwash is the Best for You?
We might tell ourselves that switching from soda to juice is a step in the right direction, but there are some juices that actually have a higher concentration of sugar than soda does. It may feel natural, as a parent, to give your child a cup of apple juice to go with their snack. Unfortunately, if you are not paying close enough attention to the amount of sugar contained in the juice, you may be facilitating tooth decay in your child’s mouth.
Even though there are many effective methods available to fight tooth decay, none of these methods work better than simply eliminating sugary drinks from our diets altogether. The less your mouth is exposed to sugar from drinks, the less opportunity there is for decay to happen.
The truth is, there are many other reasons why avoiding sugary drinks is good for us. It can make a difference in our immune systems and in managing our weight.
As a dentist serving so many in the Scottsdale, Arizona area, I strongly urge those I come in contact with to avoid sugary drinks as much as possible. It can have such a drastic effect on the long-term health of your teeth and mouth. If you have specific questions about sugary drinks, please feel free to call my office anytime at 480-951-2800.
