You may know either on an instinctual level or because someone mentioned it to you that soda is not good for you. When it comes to your oral health, it is definitely a “no-no!” But…why, you wonder? Is it because of the carbonation? As a matter of fact, it’s not the bubbles that are leading to damage and to our Overland Park, KS team encouraging you to drink something safer! Let’s cover some very important territory, as you have frequent questions quickly turned into helpful information.
When It Contains Sugar
If you’re drinking soda that contains sugar, you are doing some double-duty damage to your oral health and you may not really even realize it. Good news: We can explain why this is so problematic very quickly. First, soda is acidic. That means, it’s going to soften your enamel, which is the outer coating of your teeth that you want as strong and healthy as possible. It acts as your smile’s armor, so to speak. Next, add to the acidity the fact that your soda contains sugar and remember, sugar creates an acid environment in your mouth when bacteria consume it (and then release acids as they digest it). So, essentially, you’re just saturating your smile in lots of acid. No good.
When It’s Diet
“But my soda is diet!” you say. “There’s no sugar!” Yes, well. We invite you to refer back to our explanation about the fact that soda is acidic. All soda is acidic. Whether it contains sugar or not, it is still extremely damaging to your oral health. Skip it altogether to avoid needing restorative care!
When You’re Wondering About Sparkling Water
As mentioned, it’s not the carbonation in the beverage that’s leading to the potential erosion of your teeth, cavities, and bad things for your oral health! It’s the acidity (and also the sugar in the case of soda that is not diet). If you are someone who deeply enjoys the bubbliness of sodas but you would like to protect your oral health, we would like for you to remember that unflavored, sugarless sparkling water (as in, just water that is carbonated) is not going to present serious problems for your smile. Think of it as just a notch under the complete neutrality that you can expect from pure, still water. It’s a better choice.
See Us If You Need Help Protecting Your Smile
If you need dental services, you just have questions, or you’re curious about how to improve your smile, please always feel welcome to visit our team! We can help you get your oral health in good shape when you schedule an examination. Call Family First Dental in Overland Park, KS, today at 913-381-2600.