Too Much Soda Pop Weakens Tooth Enamel
Posted: Friday, July 10, 2009
by Avis Ward
GeoVi's Home for Pregnant Teens
We all know too much sugar can cause caries which require dental
fillings. In conversations with people in America and other countries,
not once has anyone said to me they like going to the dentist! But, our oral
habits prove otherwise. Things we consume and allow our children to
consume have an adverse effect on not just our physical health but our
dental health, too.
Soda pop consumption has increasingly become a factor in oral disease. Clinically, demineralization occurs, with erosion of tooth surfaces and caries being evident. Studies have shown, the most severe effects are seen in people who drink several cans a day. Adolescents and young adults are particularly at risk as the biggest consumers of soda pop. Preventive therapies include dietary advice and the use of high-level fluoride dentifrices, professionally-applied topical fluorides and fluoride rinses.
Photo of demineralization or erosion of teeth
Enamel is the hardest substance in the body, and it protects the crowns of the teeth. However, it is susceptible to demineralization from acids. Acids are produced when certain bacteria colonize the tooth surface and metabolize carbohydrates. If this process continues it may eventually lead to the development of carious lesions in the enamel and dentin. Another source of acid is dietary. Many foods and beverages contain acids that also can lead to demineralization of the enamel.
Soda pop has emerged as one of the most significant dietary sources of acid capable of producing demineralization of the enamel. Many brands of soda pop also contain sugars that are fermented by bacteria that produce acid by-products. It also appears that soda pop contains other ingredients that produce demineralization independent of its acid content or fermentable sugars. The role of soda pop in the demineralization of enamel and its consequences should not be underestimated.
One major development in this problem has been the increased access to soda pop in schools. Many schools throughout the country have easy access to commercial soda pop vending machines in the schools. Students have free and easy access to purchase soda pop at will. In fact, the amount of soda pop consumed by students in schools has increased dramatically and continues to increase.
Parents, it is up to us to control and monitor what our children consume. Dental visits are not enjoyable for adults so it stands to reason they are not enjoyable for kids either. Dental practices today have invested in the ambiance of their offices to make visits not what they were when I was a child. Even with these modern and technological advances, drilling is drilling!
Be proactive with you and your child's dental health. A smile is a beautiful gift to give others. It helps to make a gloomy day a much brighter one.
2009 by Avis Ward of GeoVi's Home for Pregnant Teens
Soda pop consumption has increasingly become a factor in oral disease. Clinically, demineralization occurs, with erosion of tooth surfaces and caries being evident. Studies have shown, the most severe effects are seen in people who drink several cans a day. Adolescents and young adults are particularly at risk as the biggest consumers of soda pop. Preventive therapies include dietary advice and the use of high-level fluoride dentifrices, professionally-applied topical fluorides and fluoride rinses.
Photo of demineralization or erosion of teeth Enamel is the hardest substance in the body, and it protects the crowns of the teeth. However, it is susceptible to demineralization from acids. Acids are produced when certain bacteria colonize the tooth surface and metabolize carbohydrates. If this process continues it may eventually lead to the development of carious lesions in the enamel and dentin. Another source of acid is dietary. Many foods and beverages contain acids that also can lead to demineralization of the enamel.
Soda pop has emerged as one of the most significant dietary sources of acid capable of producing demineralization of the enamel. Many brands of soda pop also contain sugars that are fermented by bacteria that produce acid by-products. It also appears that soda pop contains other ingredients that produce demineralization independent of its acid content or fermentable sugars. The role of soda pop in the demineralization of enamel and its consequences should not be underestimated.
One major development in this problem has been the increased access to soda pop in schools. Many schools throughout the country have easy access to commercial soda pop vending machines in the schools. Students have free and easy access to purchase soda pop at will. In fact, the amount of soda pop consumed by students in schools has increased dramatically and continues to increase.
Parents, it is up to us to control and monitor what our children consume. Dental visits are not enjoyable for adults so it stands to reason they are not enjoyable for kids either. Dental practices today have invested in the ambiance of their offices to make visits not what they were when I was a child. Even with these modern and technological advances, drilling is drilling!
Be proactive with you and your child's dental health. A smile is a beautiful gift to give others. It helps to make a gloomy day a much brighter one.
2009 by Avis Ward of GeoVi's Home for Pregnant Teens
This Article has been viewed 2,709 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Hi Avis.Your article has made me want to rush to the bathroom and brush my teeth! Luckily, I am allergic to corn and corn sweeteners and so the only pop I drink is all natural, made with cane sugar and very expensive. I might have about 8 sodas a year.Well, I better go brush my teeth now. :)Hugs,DianneHi Dianne,
You have me laughing. I could never be a dentist, either! The sight of blood doesn't disturb me but inside the mouth of a patient with issues, ewwwwwe. I gag. The assistants and doctor always poked fun at me.
I may have as many sodas as you in a year but I don't have to get the expensive kind. What I want most often is the fizz so I can opt for sparkling mineral water. In the south, it's "sweet tea." It's so syrupy sweet, it's ridiculous but they love it!
Thanks for reading and commenting, Dianne.
Hugs,
Avis
PS I gag at the mouthwash swishing commercials on TV.
hi avis,i have been aware of this for years, and it definitely added to the downfall of my teeth. i have to have my last 6 pulled on the 20th.i wonder what soda does to dentures? :)thanks for sharing this. i wouldn't let my kids have soda until they were 10 and up, i'd say, and then, it was only on special occassions.my best to you,sueSue, you were and still are, a good mother. I ate more candy as an adult because it was restricted as a child. Daddy had dentures and our parents were adamant about our dental health.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I hope you grabbed a soda from the cooler on your way out! :)
Hugs,
Avis
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