A majority of the American population loves to drink artificially sweetened beverages, such as soda. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sodas contain various added sugars, such as high fructose corn syrup, brown sugar, fructose, sucrose, malt syrup, dextrose, and molasses. The intake is higher in young adults, typically males. In fact, 63% of the adult population in the U.S. claimed to drink at least one sugary beverage a day. According to Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, each serving of a 20-ounce soda contains 100 calories, while there are 250 calories per bottle.
Moreover, every bottle of a 20-ounce soda has 17 teaspoons of sugar. Consuming so much sugar daily can ultimately wreak havoc on your well-being. The experts at Medical News Today even warn that regular soda consumption may put you at a high risk of heart disease, weight gain, liver disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity. In addition, drinking soda too often may also affect your oral health by causing harm to your teeth.
How soda can impact your teeth
With every sip of soda, the sugar in the drink combined with the bacteria in your mouth eventually produces acids, according to Healthline. These acids attack your teeth’s enamel(the white coating). The process known as erosion, makes the hardness of your teeth disappear and leaves them unprotected. In addition, the damaging effects of an acid attack with every sip of soda last for around 20 minutes on the teeth. Now if all you’re consuming is soda, the damaging effects are constant.
Sodas are among the leading causes of tooth decay, per the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH). And once the enamel is destroyed, it causes cavities. Keep in mind, the destruction occurs even if your drink sugar-free sodas. Therefore, you may want to use a straw to keep your teeth safe from acidic damage. Also, be mindful of when you drink soda, as it’s best to avoid drinking before going to sleep.
