If you enjoy soft drinks, energy drinks, or fruity cocktails, be careful. Your love for these acidic and sugary beverages may pose significant risks to your oral health. In this article, the team at your dental clinic on Plateau Mont-Royal explains the risks associated with consuming these drinks and offers helpful advice to reduce them.
Acidic and sugary beverages
This article focuses mainly on drinks that taste sweet and contain high levels of acids. These acids can damage the teeth because a high concentration of acidity can weaken and erode dental enamel, the outer protective layer of the teeth. When enamel becomes worn, this can lead to dentin hypersensitivity and an increased risk of cavities.
These beverages also pose risks to oral health because of their high levels of added sugar. Bacteria in the mouth feed on sugary residues that remain on the teeth and produce acids that attack the enamel.
Therefore, the combination of added sugar and acidity in these drinks creates serious risks for your teeth. But which drinks are we talking about? Here are the main ones:
Fruit juices
Soft drinks
Energy drinks
Alcoholic beverages
Coffee, especially when sugar is added
Sipping: a habit that increases risks
A major issue with sugary drinks is that people tend to sip them over long periods of time. This means taking small sips regularly over an extended period.
This habit greatly increases the risk of enamel erosion and cavity formation. The teeth remain exposed to high acidity for a prolonged time, which significantly increases enamel wear.
Our tips to reduce the risks associated with sugary drinks
If you are thirsty, choose water.
Avoid sipping fruit juice, soft drinks and other harmful beverages.
Use a straw to reduce the contact of the liquid with your teeth.
Rinse your mouth with a glass of water after drinking something sugary to help neutralize some of the acids and residues.
Maintain excellent oral hygiene to limit the development of cavities and other problems.
Good oral health depends on the choices we make every day. Regular dental visits should not be neglected, as they allow early diagnosis and treatment of conditions that could pose risks to your teeth. To schedule your next visit at the Centre Dentaire de Haute Technologie du Quebec, contact us today.