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There are many foods and substances we partake in every day that are having a negative effect on our oral health. Of these, one of the most dangerous and yet most consumed is pop. Pop is horrific for our teeth, and the reason for this is that the tasty beverage attacks our teeth on two different fronts: through its high sugar content and its carbonation.
If you are drinking too much pop, then chances are high that you will develop dangerous oral conditions, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Here at Jackson Dental, we want you to be aware of the dangers of pop, as well as what you can do to ensure that pop does the least amount of damage to your teeth possible.
Protect Your Teeth From Sugar and Carbonation
There are two main ways that pop works to compromise the health of your teeth. The first of these is through its high sugar content. Sugar is bad for our teeth, but not in the way that many would think. Most people hear sugar is bad for their teeth and assume it is the substance itself that hurts their teeth, but this isn’t completely true. The truth is, sugar attracts bacteria to your teeth, which feeds on this sugar and creates plaque and tartar. These substances make dangerous acids, that proceed to eat away at the protective layers of your teeth in a process called tooth decay.
The second way pop works against your teeth is through its carbonation. In order to carbonate a beverage, carbonic acid is used. This substance, much like the acids produced by bacteria, eats away at the surface of your teeth, leaving the inner layers defenseless against dangerous oral conditions. When you drink pop, your teeth are exposed to this acid, and actually undergo a 20 to 30-minute acid attack. Enough of these attacks can compromise your teeth, damaging them to the point where they will need to be extracted.
Tips to Lessen Damage from Pop
Despite understanding the effects pop can have on their teeth, many people are still unwilling to completely give up pop. We have some tips that can help lessen the amount of damage the teeth receive from this tasty beverage:
- Always drink your pop through a straw. By using a straw, your teeth will not receive a full blast of the sugary treat, and thus less sugar and carbonation will be left behind.
- Drink your pop as quickly as possible. Every time you drink pop, your teeth receive that half hour acid attack. However, if you take longer than 30 minutes to drink one pop, then your teeth will receive a second acid attack from the same pop. Try to finish your drink in less than 30 minutes to ensure that this doesn’t happen.
- Drink water directly after finishing your pop. By taking the time to swish some water around your mouth, you can wash away some of the sugar and carbonic acid left behind on your teeth.
Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Jackson
If you do happen to lose a tooth because you drank too much pop, then rest assured that our office can help. Using treatment with dental implants, Dr. Christopher Jackson can restore your smile, giving you replacement teeth that function and feel just like natural teeth.
If you have lost teeth and would like to begin restoring those teeth, contact our office and schedule a no-obligation consultation with Dr. Jackson today. Together, we can find the best solution for your needs and have you smiling once more.
