Sugar-free drinks can damage teeth

Most people believe that soft drinks that are labeled sugar-free are safe for oral health, but unfortunately, they are not much better than the other sugar-filled alternatives because of their potential to cause tooth enamel and erosion.

Sugar can lead to damaged teeth when it is fermented with bacteria in the mouth and produces acid. While sugar-free drinks do not directly lead to cavities, they weaken the enamel, which can cause a host of problems.

Everyone must be aware that sugar-filled drinks, sodas, and juices are bad when it comes to maintaining oral health. Here are some of the drinks that cause cavities, sensitivity, and tooth enamel that can damage your teeth.

How Sugar-Free Drinks Damage Teeth

Drinks that are lower in sugar decrease the risk of causing tooth decay, but drinking diet or sugar-free beverages does not entirely remove the risk of tooth damage. Many drinks contain multiple acids and have low PH value.

Most people think that switching from regular drinks to diet sodas will be the best decision to keep their teeth healthy. Unfortunately, they often contain no sugar. Diet sodas usually cause the same dental problems as regular sodas.

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), men are more likely to consume sugary drinks and sodas. In comparison, teenage boys get about 273 calories from sugar drinks a day.

When you consume soda, the sugar it contains interacts with bacterias in the mouth and forms an acid that attacks your teeth.

With every sip of soda, you are starting a damaging reaction that lasts for 20 minutes, and if you sip all day, your teeth are under constant acid attack that can damage teeth.

Beverages That Causes Tooth Enamel And Cavities

Consuming sugary food and drinks that are high in sugar and acids plays a vital role in the development of cavities.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends limiting sugars to less than 10% of your total sugar intake and aiming for 5%.

Read through the following beverages to understand how they affect your oral health.

1. Diet Sodas

Soft drinks contain inherent acids and sugars with acidogenic and cariogenic potential and its consumption can cause dental erosion and cavities overtime.

While diet soda may not contain the same amount of sugar as other regular sodas, it still contains acid, which is bad news for your oral health.

If you do drink soda, then you must have a glass of water afterward to wash off your mouth and those teeth-harming sugars and acids.

1. Soft Drinks

Soft drinks are full of sugar and acids that can damage teeth enamel, which is not good for your oral health. When drinks are carbonated, they have higher acidic levels, which are more likely to cause dental erosion.

Diet soft drinks are still highly acidic in nature, which can cause dental erosion. Every sip of a soft drink results in an acid attack on the protective enamel around your teeth for about 20 minutes.

1. Fruit juice

Many fruit juices, such as orange and lemonade juice, contain natural sugars and citric acid that wear away tooth enamel. Enamel erosion can ultimately lead to cavities.

The best approach to fruit juice is to have it as an occasional treat that you drink, along with plenty of water to wash off your mouth instantly.

1. Energy drinks

Like soda, energy drinks also contain very high levels of sugar and acid that often lead to both cavities and teeth erosion.

A single energy drink may contain about 21 to 34 grams of sugar in every ounce of drinks. Consuming energy drinks is associated with about a twofold increase in dental erosion.

1. Sports drinks

While sports drinks are marketed as healthy and nutritious, they are high in sugar content and are ineffective for athletic performance.

Most professional athletes follow carefully managed diets that are healthier and rich in nutrients.

They don’t drink sports drinks; instead, they choose healthier options that won’t weaken their teeth.

Best Drinks Options For Healthier And Stronger Teeth

Here are some of the best drink options you should opt for in order to have healthier teeth and a brighter smile, which also aids in your physical health by making you healthier.

• Water

It is no surprise that water comes first when it comes to oral and physical health. Water helps in keeping your mouth clean by washing away leftover food particles stuck in your mouth that bacteria thrive on, causing cavities that can damage teeth.

It also prevents the risk of dry mouth, a common risk factor for tooth decay. It doesn’t contain any sugar or acid to wear on your tooth enamel, and drinking water can fight off cavities, too.

• Milk

Milk is a fantastic option often recommended by dentists especially for children to maintain sugar and dental health. Milk is highly rich in calcium, proteins, vitamins, and minerals that improve your oral health and help in growth and development.

Calcium is known to strengthen the enamel of your teeth, preventing them from becoming infected with tooth decay and cavities.

• Sparkling Water

Plain sparkling water, which contains no added sugars or citric flavoring, is one of the best beverage options for your teeth. However, sparkling water is carbonated, and it contains a higher acid level than plain water.

But the acidity in plain sparkling water is so low that its effects on teeth are about the same as those of noncarbonated or plain tap water.

However, using sparkling water with added sugar or citric flavoring will negatively impact your teeth.

Key Takeaways

Constantly sipping sugary drinks throughout the day can leave your teeth open to acidic attacks for a longer time. This only habit causes dental erosion leading to sensitive teeth and that can damage teeth.

To keep your teeth stronger and healthier, eliminate sugar and acidic beverages from your diet altogether to improve your overall oral health, but that’s not always a practical goal.

However, you must take a step in the right direction by cutting off unhealthy drinks you consume and replacing them with healthier options like water, milk, and unsweetened tea.

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