We all know that sugar is bad for our teeth. The sugar we take acts as food for bacteria which in turn destroy our teeth and cause cavities. Fizzy sugary drinks are especially bad because they also contain acid which eats away at the enamel, the protective layer that guards our teeth against infection. This double blow to our teeth makes fizzy drinks dangerous for our oral health. In the last decade or so there has been a rise of diet drinks which promise to be better for our teeth. But do they really? Find out more about the effects of diet sodas on your teeth.
their effect on our teeth.
What are Diet Sodas
Non-sugary fizzy drinks are usually made exactly the same way as their sugary counterparts with one important exception. Instead of using sugar to sweeten the drinks they use sweeteners such as aspartame and others. These promise to give the same taste like the sugary drinks without any of the adverse effects. However, these diet drinks still have a damaging effect on your teeth. Here is how they can harm your oral health.
Acidity
Regardless of their sugar content, most fizzy drinks and juices contain a significant amount of acidic substances. These include citric, phosphoric and carbonic acids. All these have the same effect on your teeth. They wear down the enamel and make it easy for bacteria to attack your teeth and cause diseases like periodontitis. In fact, various studies found there is a negligible difference between the harm caused by diet drinks and sugary drinks.
False Security
People who consume diet drinks tend to operate from a false sense of security. This arises from the assumption that because the drinks have no sugar, they can consume more of them. They also tend to not take care of their teeth as much as they would if they were taking sugary drinks. This results in rapid degradation of their teeth and the development of cavities.
How to Protect Your Teeth
The best way to keep your teeth healthy and strong is to minimize consumption of any kind of fizzy drink, whether sugary or not. There are numerous healthy ways to stay hydrated and one of the most effective ways to do this is also the healthiest; taking water. Water hydrates the body effectively while keeping your mouth acid free and sugar free. If you do take a diet drink, drink water immediately after. This helps to rinse your mouth off the acid in the drinks. Brushing teeth immediately after drinking diet sodas is not recommended. This is because the acid weakens the enamel and brushing your teeth immediately after will make the problem worse.
One of the key pillars to good oral health is regular dental exams by a professional dentist. If you are looking for an experienced dentist in New York City, come to Dr. Alex Rubinov. Dr. Rubinov is a professional and licensed New York City dentist with years of experience. Contact his practice at (718) 253-0800 for an appointment.