It’s hard not to love a sugary soda or fruit juice. They’re just filled with so much sugary goodness! But while these drinks might be great for your taste buds, they’re not good for your teeth. In fact, according to a new study, sodas and other sugary drinks are the worst food/beverage for your teeth. So if you drink a lot of soda, you might want to start cutting back! Learn more in our blog.
Soda has a pH of 2.5! Anything below 5.5 can cause tooth erosion.
Sugary Drinks are Top Cause of Tooth Erosion
What is tooth erosion?
Tooth erosion is when the enamel on your teeth is worn away as a result of exposure to acid. As the enamel in your teeth wears away, it exposes the dentin layer beneath. This layer is very sensitive, which means you may experience tooth sensitivity as tooth erosion progresses.
Why does soda erode teeth?
Soda is highly acidic. Most sodas average a pH level of 2.5. For comparison, battery acid has a pH of 1.0 and pure water at room temperature has a pH of 7.0. Any food or drink with a pH lower than 5.5 can erode your teeth. In addition, most sodas average 6 teaspoons of sugar per bottle, which also contributes significantly to tooth erosion.
What did the study find?
The study found that while most adults show some signs of tooth erosion, the most severe cases were consistently among those who consumed large quantities of sodas and fruit juices.
The study also found that those who had lower levels of tooth erosion were more likely to drink milk. The calcium and Vitamin D in milk actually helps strengthen your bones, including your teeth.
In addition, the study found that Men were twice as likely to suffer from dental erosion as women, “and tooth wear became more severe with age among the participants.”
How do I prevent tooth erosion?
First, it’s important to know that almost everyone has some degree of tooth erosion. 79% of the 3,773 participants in the study had “evidence of dental erosion” but only 10% had moderate tooth wear and 5% had severe wear. If you only have light tooth erosion, it’s not cause for concern, provided you make an effort to take care of your teeth to prevent further erosion.
The best thing to do to prevent tooth erosion is to limit your intake of sugary drinks and other highly acidic food/drink such as citrus fruit. Of course, brushing and flossing regularly is another important component.
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