Mayor Bloomberg suffered a temporary setback on March 18th when a judge reversed his soda ban. Judge Milton Tingling of the New York State Supreme Court said that there were too many exemptions and the ban was too arbitrary to be constitutional. The next day Bloomberg quickly went back on the attack, saying that people couldn’t help themselves. He contends that soda is a type of addiction that is contributing to our obesity rates. It’s true too. Soda and other sugary drinks are dangerous to our public health, especially when marketed to children. Even diet soda has been linked to an increased risk of obesity, but little news has focused on what soda and other sugary drinks do to our teeth. Let’s take a look at some of the consequences of soft drinks on your teeth.
- It will rot your teeth: Do you remember as a child when your dentist told you to stay away from sugar because you’ll get more cavities? There is some truth to that, and soft drinks have plenty of sugar. They also have a lot of acid. Overtime, acid will erode enamel in the teeth causing you to get more cavities. If you’re a New Yorker and don’t cut out the soda, you may be subject to tooth loss and you’ll need dental implants in Staten Island or wherever you happen to be.
- What about diet soda? You may say that you drink diet soda, so what’s the big deal. There’s no sugar. While this is true, there is still acid, which again can erode your enamel. In addition, there have been several studies that concluded that drinking diet drinks give you a sweet tooth. Because diet soda is much sweeter than regular soda, you may eat more sugary things as you’ll develop a taste for it as you drink more diet soda.
If there is a connection between soft drinks and oral problems, what should you do about it? Of course, the obvious answer is to drink less soda. Drink more water, and if you need the carbonation, mineral water and club soda make for safer options. Additionally, make sure to practice good oral practices. Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste, floss at least twice a day and see your dentist regularly. You’ll do your teeth and your heart good if you do. And if you have already done damage to your teeth, don’t get too discouraged. With dental implants and other advancements, it is possible to gain back your smile if you cut out the soda.
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Eric Regan is a writer who loves to see what the world has to offer. He has written for blogs covering various topics
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