Popular drinks like soda and juice can accelerate tooth erosion. I have written before regarding what you should drink and eat to maintain tooth health, but it always bears repeating. Soft drinks and many popular fruit juices and drinks have excessive amounts of sugar, which influences the acidity of your mouth and gives the bacteria which cause tooth erosion plenty of food to reproduce, grow, and erode your teeth. Furthermore, the rough feeling on your teeth after drinking a sugary soft drink is because your enamel has been weakened. Rinsing with water, drinking milk, and brushing your teeth will help reverse these effects, but over time, it may lead to caries and other dental health problems.
People also believe they can get away with drinking diet soft drinks, but this is simply not the case. Sodas are inherently acidic, which is not good for your teeth over time. It is recommended that you drink any sort of soda sparingly and restrict yourself to no more than one soft drink per day. This is especially important as you get older, as your teeth begin to wear down and the enamel gets thinner from years of use, bruxism, and other factors.
Men are also more prone to tooth decay and wear than women, but evidence is showing as more women enter the workforce and take on more stressful roles, that this gap is lessening. It is vital that you make sure you get regular checkups, cleanings, and do your routine self-care to ensure your teeth stay healthy. Also, avoid drinks that have a pH of 5.5 or lower, and this includes many popular energy drinks and sodas.
Patients who drink primarily water and milk have less erosion than those who don’t, so having dairy or chewing a calcium supplement may help reduce the amount of erosion your teeth suffer over time. You only get one set of teeth, and nothing beats nature, so it behooves you to take care of what you have. If you have any questions or concerns about your dental health, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (310) 273-2020 and I or one of my caring, knowledgeable staff will be happy to help you or consult you regarding your concern.
