Whether sugary or sugar-free, sodas can be delicious but present certain health risks, including that of your teeth. A new study considers them as destructive to dentition as some illegal drugs.
Find out why sodas are so harmful and what other drinks and foods you should avoid to keep your teeth white and healthy longer.
There are plenty of reasons to avoid sodas. Not only because sugary sodas provide many calories without any nutrient, whose consumption is associated with the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes (in the case of sugary sodas), but also, taking them in excess has been linked to other health problems such as depression and the development of the metabolic syndrome (which includes excess fat around the waist, high triglycerides and good cholesterol or low HDL in the blood, high blood pressure and elevated glucose or blood sugar levels ).
In the same way, whether they are sugary or not, sodas contain acids (such as citric and phosphoric) that can damage the surface of the teeth, giving way to stains, decay and other dental problems.
In this regard, a recent study that was published in the specialized environment General Dentistry indicates that, in extreme cases, the consumption of sodas can have the same effect on teeth as the use of illegal drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine.
This conclusion is based on the case of a 30-year-old woman who drank about two liters of dietary soda for three to five years and had her teeth so damaged, with erosion of tooth enamel and cavities, as that of an addict. The 29-year-old methamphetamine and another 51-year-old man who regularly used cocaine.
The youngest had used methamphetamine for three years and generally took two or three cans of sodas (or soft drinks) per day, because the drugs dried his mouth. The 51-year-old, mean while, had reported being addicted for at least 18 years.
In the case of women, on the other hand, they only consumed artificially sweetened sodas, since they were worried about their weight. And while he had not gone to dental checkups for more than 20 years, when he finally did his teeth were already weak, discolored and several had even been destroyed by erosion.
Of course, this situation is particular and the damage to the teeth of this woman may have been caused by other factors, and not only by the high consumption of dietary sodas. However, it is equally true that the acids contained in these drinks can damage your teeth, something that can vary depending on the amount you drink, the frequency and the time when you leave the drink in your mouth. The same goes for sports drinks, which also contain acids that can corrode the teeth.
That’s why it’s important to limit your intake, as well as other beverages that can stain your teeth, such as coffee, tea, and wine, as well as certain foods that can stain your teeth, such as dark colored fruits and some dairy products.
Keeping your mouth healthy is very important not only for aesthetic reasons but also because digestion begins there and because it is essential for good communication. For all this, avoid habits that may be harmful to your oral health and of course, tops your list of care by maintaining proper oral hygiene and do not miss visiting your dentist (dentist) at least once a year.