Tooth Enamel Erosion from Soda May be Irreversible

When it comes to your teeth, diet soda isn’t any better than regular soda.

Regardless of the type of soda, enough of it results in the erosion of the tooth enamel. In many cases, the damage can’t be turned back.

The amount of erosion cases from soda has risen drastically in the last 25 years. People drink gigantic amounts of soda, and erosion of the enamel is inevitable in many cases.

The average American now drinks 44 gal of soda each year, according to the National Soft Drink Association. The phosphoric and citric acid in the soda changes the pH balance in the mouth and eventually leads to tooth erosion when consumed in large quantities.

There are also many cases in which the teeth become more sensitive. The problem could alter what a person eats and drinks to prevent pain. There are even people with teeth so sensitive that their teeth hurt from the cold in the winter.

Many previous studies have indicated the correlation between soda consumption and enamel erosion or cavities.

The best measure to take is to avoid drinking soda. But if you like soda too much to give it up, limit it to meal time, don’t drink it throughout the day, brush your teeth later in the day (at the minimum, rinse with water), and chew sugarless gum or gum with xylitol.

 

An article from Dentistry Today