The drinks we consume in our daily lives have a significant impact on our teeth. The various components of most of them have a very harmful effect on our teeth.
Contenus
Acids and sugars, the main culprits.
In the most consumed beverages, the observation is unequivocal: we consume more and more beverages with high sugar content and high pH. A recent study by the Oral Health Foundation has determined a precise danger score for the teeth of these two factors.
The results show, not surprisingly, thathigh exposure to acid or sugar will corrode the protective layer of our teeth, the enamel. This will expose them to all external attacks and allow the arrival of painful caries.
In the list of the drink at risk, we can find colas, alcohols such as cider or prosecco, all the energy categories, but also fruit juices. The only pH-neutral, sugar-free drink that can be consumed without moderation is…water.
Water and milk will not attack our teeth in the long term, and will not cause any consequences.
The scourge of dental erosion
Today's population is getting older and older. We must therefore take care of our teeth in order to keep them in good condition as long as possible.
Unfortunately, since the early 2000s, the overconsumption of acidic and sugar-saturated beverages has only increased, and dentists are finding that our teeth are wearing out much faster than they should.
The cause is too much consumption at too young an age. Dentists see wear lesions on baby teeth and then on young adult teeth at a very high percentage in developed countries.
This wear reduces the enamel layer protecting the dental crown, dissolving it by acids. This layer eventually dissolves completely, leaving the crown exposed to the air. The bacteria can then attack the tooth and create a cavity.
What about sugar? It is ingested by the bacteria present in the mouth, which will transform it into acid in its turn, to also attack the enamel.
Avoid erosion and keep your teeth healthy
Erosion takes time depending on how acidic beverages are consumed. There are several possible avenues of protection.
The first and simplest is to reduce consumption. Nutritionists and dentists also advise not to drink anything other than water outside of meals. The reason is simple, meals make you salivate, and saliva protects you in part from acid attacks. Outside of mealtime, aggression will be higher.
You can also limit the contact of teeth and acid by drinking through a straw or rinsing your mouth, and even brushing your teeth after each meal can help. Studies are also underway to reduce the acidity directly in the products consumed, but nothing relevant has emerged yet.
And above all, it is important to realize that sodas are not the only ones at fault, fruit juices, despite their attractiveness in terms of vitamins and nutrients, are also responsible.