Why is soda bad for your teeth?

Ever seen those videos where someone puts a baby tooth in a glass of soda and watches it decay?  Well, the effect of soda in an actual mouth is a bit different. You have your saliva to help wash away the sugar, you eat other things throughout the day, and brush at least twice a day to remove debris or plaque. Nevertheless, soda is not something we recommend you consume more often than a once-in-awhile treat.

Here’s why: Sugar Soda has extremely high sugar content. The bacteria that cause tooth decay feed off of sugar and excrete acid, which is what causes tooth decay. The more sugar our teeth have to interact with, the more prone to decay they will be. Acid Think diet soda is a better alternative? Even though it contains zero sugar, it can still contain acids such as phosphoric acid or citric acid. The acid eats away at a tooth’s enamel and leaves it prone to decay. Colors Caramel color, Yellow 5, etc. Any type of artificial coloring can cause tooth-staining.

It is best to remove soda from you diet completely and drink water instead, however, if you cannot cut it out completely practice drinking it in moderation or only on special occasions.  Use a straw, sipping through a straw reduces the amount of contact sugar and acid have on your teeth.  Do not sip on soda slowly or over long periods of time as it exposes your teeth to repeated sugar and acid attacks.  After drinking soda, take a drink of water, preferably tap water that has been fluoridated.  Drinking water after soda will help remove or dilute the sugar and acid from your teeth.  Brush your teeth after drinking soda with fluoride toothpaste and, if you like, take it one step further and rinse with a fluoride mouthwash.  Never drink soda before you go to sleep, the damaging effects are increased.  Never, never drink soda while sleeping. -Yes, people are known have it on their nightstands, sipping on it through the night- Water should be your only source of hydration through the night.  This practice only results in bad outcomes.  Schedule regular check-ups and cleanings to remove plaque, bacteria, from your teeth.  Drink water instead!  It is what our body is designed to drink.  Our thirst craves water. Water is the body’s No.1 choice for hydration.