How Often Does Soda Damage Tooth Enamel? Risks , Prevention

Tooth enamel is the hardest part of the teeth that provides protection. Despite being so tough, it is easily damaged by chemical reactions from acidic drinks. Many people drink fizzy soft drinks, energy drinks and soda every day without knowing how much damage is being caused.

Regular consumption of soda causes constant damage to the teeth. The soft drinks are harmful in 2 ways.

By knowing how soft drinks affect tooth enamel you’ll be able to take steps to keep your teeth healthy.

What Is Dental Erosion?

Dental erosion is the permanent loss of hard tooth tissue that occurs as a result of acid exposure.

• Tooth Enamel – Your tooth enamel is made up of a highly mineralised crystalline structure containing mainly calcium and phosphate. Known as hydroxyapatite.

• Critical Ph – The minerals in your enamel start to dissolve when the PH in your mouth drops below 5.5.

• No Living Cells – Natural tooth enamel doesn’t contain any living cells so once it has been completely eroded it cannot be grown naturally by your body.

• Loss of Protection – As enamel starts to wear away the sensitive dentin of the tooth starts to show. This leads to constant nerve pain, sensitivity to hot and cold.

How Does Acidic Soda Cause Enamel to Melt?

Most popular soft drinks (including diet) are very acidic. As soon as they come into contact with your teeth damage occurs.

• Corrosive Acids – Phosphotic acid, citric acid and carbonic acid are added to your soda to give a tangy taste and fizzy bubbles.

• Very Acidic – Most fizzy soft drinks have a PH level of between 2.3 and 3.5. This means they’re almost as acidic as battery acid or lemon juice!

• Minerals Wash Away – The acid in your food will wash away essential calcium and phosphate ions from the enamel.

• Diet Soda Doesn’t Help – Although there is no sugar in diet soda, they still contain high amounts of phosphoric and citric acid. This means enamel will erode just the same as full sugar.

How Does Sugary Soda Cause Bacteria to Grow?

Full sugar soda provide the perfect breeding ground for harmful acid producing bacteria.

• Bacteria Grows – Bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans will happily consume the refined sugar (sucrose) and high fructose corn syrup found in soft drinks.

• More Acid Produced – As the bacteria break down the sugary residue, they produce lactic acid.

• Build up of Bacteria – Sugary drinks cause a build up of heavy biofilm at the gum line and between teeth.

• Double Damage – The combination of acidic drinks and bacteria producing acidic causes damage to your teeth and speeds up the development of cavities.

What Are the Symptoms of Soda Causing Damage?

Tooth enamel will start to erode slowly over time. Knowing what to look out for will help you get treatment from your dentist.

• Discoloration – As the shiny white enamel wears away your teeth will start to look dull and yellow as the natural yellow color of the dentin shows through.

• Sensitivity – You may feel pain when drinking hot coffee, cold water or eating sweet foods. This means your enamel has worn away.

• Chipped Edges – Your incisors may have worn away showing through as translucent, thin, chipped and rounded edges.

• Pitting – Small indentations may start to show on the flat chewing surface of your molars.

• Fillings/Crowns Falling Out – Acid will erode the edges of your teeth causing your composite fillings and porcelain crowns to fall out sooner.

How Can Sipping or Sucking Cause More Damage?

How you drink your carbonated drink will cause as much damage as how often you consume them.

• Constant Exposure – Sipping your soda will expose your teeth to constant acid.

• Overwhelm – Whilst your saliva will try to neutralize the acid and provide minerals, constant sipping will overwhelm your body.

• Swishing – Swishing your carbonated drink around your mouth will cause the acidic chemicals to wash over all your hidden teeth.

Drinking 3 Sodas in one meal will do far less damage than sipping one soda throughout your whole working day.

What Are the Ways to Help Protect Your Teeth?

Whilst giving up carbonated drinks entirely will help protect your mouth, there are some things you can do to reduce damage.

• Straw – Using a reusable straw will help keep your teeth safe. Try to drink from the back of your mouth.

• Rinse – After you’ve finished your soda rinse your mouth with plenty of water.

• Don’t Brush – Don’t brush your teeth for at least 30-60 mins. The acid will soften your enamel and brushing will cause damage to the delicate layers.

• Sugar Free Gum – Chewing sugar free gum sweetened with Xylitol will help to increase your natural saliva production.

• Fluoride Toothpaste – Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. This will help strengthen your weakened enamel.

• Visit Dentist – Visit your dentist every 6 months for regular checks, cleans and prevention.

What Are the Key Takeaways About Soda and Tooth Enamel?

• Soda causes damage to your enamel by causing acid from the drink and acid from bacteria.

• Diet soda causes the same chemical damage as regular soft drinks due to the high acid levels.

• Don’t sip your soda throughout the day.

• Rinse your mouth thoroughly with fresh water.

• Don’t brush your teeth for 30-60mins after drinking acidic drinks.

• Use fluoride toothpaste daily and visit your dentist.

What Are the Frequently Asked Questions About Soda and Tooth Enamel?

Can Tooth Enamel Regrow?

Unfortunately your enamel cannot regrow as it contains no living cells. Once damaged by chemical erosion it cannot grow back. However by using fluoride toothpaste and topical treatments from your dentist you can remineralise and strengthen your weakened enamel.

Are Diet Sodas Better for My Teeth?

Although diet soda removes the refined sugars stopping bacteria from creating acid, they’re still very acidic due to the addition of citric and phosphoric acid. They will cause the same amount of enamel erosion as regular soda.

How Long Does Soda Take to Damage Enamel?

Within 30 seconds of the acidic soda coming into contact with your teeth demineralisation begins. If consumed regularly you’ll begin to see your enamel wearing away and looking yellow and sensitive within a few months to a year, depending on your saliva levels and oral hygiene.

Is Sparkling Water Damaging to Teeth?

Plain sparkling water is much less damaging than soft drinks as there’s no addition of citric or phosphoric acid. Whilst it is slightly acidic due to the carbonation, the PH level is still well above the critical level.

Regular consumption of soda can be a leading cause of enamel erosion, cavities and sensitivity. By understanding how the damage occurs, recognizing symptoms early, changing your habits and keeping on top of your oral hygiene you can protect your enamel. Work with your dentist to create personalized prevention methods to keep
your natural teeth strong, healthy and beautiful.