Soft Drink Tooth Decay

Tooth Decay

It is very common now for children to drink 6 to 7 cans of soda in a day. Regardless of some beliefs, diet soda is also harmful to our teeth due to high acidity levels.  By drinking any type of soda it increases the risk of tooth decay.  Plaque forms on our teeth everyday.  Plaque is a sticky, film of bacteria.  When exposed to to sugar it forms an acid.  That acid causes the enamel and root surfaces to soften and decay.

Some risk factors of soft drink tooth decay are exposure time, history of filling or crowns, decreased saliva flow (often times from medications), genetics, home care, no dental care, not enough fluoride, crowding of teeth, or deep pits and grooves.

To prevent decay limit the number of sodas and other sugary drinks in your diet.  Drink plenty of water.  If you drink a soda rinse with tap water after to neutralize the pH of your saliva. Read labels for sugar content which be in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose, glucose, or dextrose.  Talk to your dentist about in-office fluoride treatments as well as prescription fluoride to help strengthen your enamel.