Why Soda and Energy Drinks are Terrible for Your Teeth?
Before you pop the top on another can of your favorite soft drink, soda, & energy drink, you might want to stop and think about the harm you’re doing to your teeth and smile.
The sugars in soft drinks interact with bacteria in your mouth to form acid, which attacks your teeth. Add that to the acids normally contained in regular and sugar-free sodas, and you’re starting a damaging reaction that lasts for about 20 minutes. If you sip all day, your teeth are under constant attack.
Sugar causes tooth decay
OK, so this really isn’t big news — everyone knows sugar is implicated in cavities. But do you know how it works? When sugar coats your teeth, the bacteria in your mouth start feasting on it. As they break down the sugar, the bacteria create acids which eat away at the tooth surface. It’s the acids, not the sugar itself, that cause decay.
Acid eats tooth enamel
When an acidic food or drink dissolves the outer surface of teeth, it’s called dental erosion — a chemical reaction that has nothing to do with bacteria. When you drink soda or another acidic beverage, the surfaces of your teeth begin to soften and dissolve immediately.
And the scary thing is, the damage is irreversible. Tooth enamel isn’t like skin or the soft tissues in your mouth, which can grow back after minor damage. When tooth enamel is gone, it doesn’t regenerate. Signs of dental erosion are tooth sensitivity to hot and cold, and a yellowing or darkening of the teeth as the white enamel wears away.
What makes soda acidic?
Soda gets its fizz from dissolving carbon dioxide in cold water under pressure to create carbonic acid. Two other acids in soda are phosphoric acid and citric acid, which are added as preservatives and flavor enhancers.
Citric acid is especially problematic: It can bind to calcium and leach it out of teeth. Another type, malic acid, is added to diet sodas, as well as sports drinks, fruit juices, and iced teas.
A Study comparing the impact of energy drinks on teeth found that the acidity levels in energy drinks vs. sports drinks and soda were twice as high. The acidity causes the pH balance in your mouth to plummet to as low as 2 on the pH scale (healthy oral pH balance should be 6.8-7). Even worse, once the pH balance is lowered, it can take your body up to 30 minutes to go back to its normal level. With every sip of your energy drink, your teeth are basically being bathed in acid.
To give you an idea of how much acid and sugar are in some of your favorite drinks, consider the following numbers:
If you enjoy drinking soda or energy drink, there are things you can do to reduce the risk of damage to your teeth.
