As parents, we want our children to enjoy life and everything that comes along with it. This includes eating their favorite foods and having their favorite drinks. However, at Smile Center for Kids, we know that some of these favorites are terrible for their dental health. One of the biggest culprits of this is soda. In this blog post, we will dive into why soda is dental health enemy number one and what parents can do to help protect their child’s teeth.
Soda contains a lot of sugar
One of the biggest reasons soda is bad for your child’s teeth is the sugar content. Sugar is the perfect food for bacteria, which produce acid that can erode enamel which could lead to cavities. A single can of soda can contain up to 10 teaspoons of sugar. Every time your child takes a drink of soda, their teeth are covered in sugar, which could cause serious damage to their dental health.
Acidic content in soda causes enamel erosion
Sugar is not the only enemy when it comes to soda. Carbonated drinks have carbonic acid, which means that the drink is acidic. Over time, the acid in soda can erode tooth enamel, leading to sensitive teeth and increasing the risk of cavities. The more soda your child drinks, the more their enamel will dissolve, which makes their teeth more susceptible to tooth decay.
Soda and oral hygiene
Drinking soda can disrupt the natural pH level in your child’s mouth, which can have a negative impact on their overall oral hygiene. Drinking soda may create an acidic environment in their mouth, which can lead to gum disease, bad breath, and tooth loss. If consumed frequently, soda can also decrease saliva production in your child’s mouth, which is necessary to neutralize bad bacteria that can develop in your child’s dental system.
What Parents Can Do
Monitoring and reducing your child’s soda intake is one way to help protect their dental health. You can substitute sugary drinks with healthier alternatives like water, 100% fruit juices, and unsweetened tea. It’s also important to monitor how much soda your child is consuming, to reduce the risk of tooth damage. A child can still enjoy their favorite drink, but it’s essential to limit their consumption as much as possible.
At Smile Center for Kids, we know that keeping your child’s dental health in check requires a lot of effort. One of the best things you can do to protect your teeth is to limit soda consumption. By monitoring and substituting sugary drinks with healthier alternatives, you can reduce the risk of dental decay and ensure that your child’s teeth are healthy. We invite you to bring your child to our clinic, where our highly experienced pediatric dentists can help advise on the best ways to keep your child’s teeth healthy and shining bright!
Contact Smile Center for Kids (Tap to open in Google Maps):
1050 Sunland Park Drive, Ste B200
El Paso, TX 79922
915-213-120012801 B Edgemere Blvd, Ste 112,
El Paso TX 79938
915-493-6310
