Is soda your favorite beverage? Given the addictive nature of soft drinks, it’s no wonder individuals are crazy about drinking soda in excessive amounts.
Nevertheless, sugary beverages are detrimental to the dental and overall health of users. Regular consumption of liquid sugar increases the risk of cavities, staining, weight gain, heart disease, diabetes, etc.
People fond of consuming carbonated drinks are likely to notice teeth discoloration, starting as a yellow tone that converts into a brown color over time. Fortunately, people having problems with soda stained teeth can remove such stains with the help of teeth-whitening products and natural remedies.
This is everything you need to know about tooth discoloration caused by sugary beverages.
How soda affects the teeth?
Soda is an arch-enemy of teeth, as it takes the form of liquid sugar. Every time a person consumes such a sugary drink, the bacteria inside the mouth get in touch with fructose, hence encouraging sugar to metabolize. When sugar and oral bacteria interact, a harmful acid is formed, whose primary role is to attack the teeth.
Additionally, every sip of soda triggers a twenty-minute attack, referring to the period it takes for the acid to be formed. It’s fairly easy for liquid sugar to erode the protective coating of teeth, known as the enamel, as oral bacteria cover both teeth and gums by creating plaque. In terms of age, youngsters and teenagers are more likely to have their teeth damaged by soda, given their enamel isn’t strong enough as that of adults.
Soda is known to damage oral health by eroding tooth enamel, causing cavities, and staining one’s teeth. The process of erosion takes place due to the presence of phosphoric and citric acid in sugary drinks, both of which are detrimental to the enamel. Once these acids come in contact with one’s teeth, they soften the enamel and cause further damage by exposing the dentin, referring to the layer below the enamel. Consequently, dentin damage makes teeth more sensitive to hot or cold drinks and foods.
Moreover, cavities are another adverse effect caused by drinking plenty of soda. Any damage done to the enamel and dentin is an invitation for caries to develop. Lack of oral hygiene in combination with consumption of soft drinks is the recipe for cavities. Click here to gain insight into the causes, signs, and symptoms of cavities.
Ultimately, drinking soda not only damages enamel and dentin but triggers discoloration. Sugary drinks contain dyes, which turn the natural color of teeth into yellow or brown. Such staining is particularly common in individuals drinking soda on a regular basis. The more sugary drinks you consume, the more vulnerable your teeth become to staining due to the high levels of acid.
Although giving up on soda would be an obvious solution for preventing such stains from forming, not many people are capable of parting with their favorite beverage. Some people replace regular with diet soda in the hope of preventing tooth decay and staining while still enjoying the flavor of liquid sugar. Nevertheless, diet soda is believed to be an even worse enemy of oral health, as it includes its own type of acid.
If saying no to soda seems impossible, one can at least take certain precautions to reduce the risk of cavities and staining. For instance, consuming solely one sugary drink per day is an important step towards reducing the risk of caries. The acid damage done by a single beverage is more than enough for affecting oral health negatively.
Furthermore, drinking sodas quickly is another method of impeding damage. The longer you leave a sugary drink in your mouth, the more damage acids and sugars are likely to make. Additionally, using a straw is a highly effective method when it comes to preventing damage. When consuming sugary beverages, using a straw impedes harmful ingredients from reaching the teeth. The following link, includes a complete guide to giving up on soda.
Another thing individuals are advised to do after consuming a soft drink is rinsing their mouth with water. The role of water is to remove the remaining acid and sugar in order to reduce the intensity of the attack. Also, brushing your teeth immediately after consuming soda isn’t exactly the smartest idea due to tooth vulnerability. Brushing can be rather harmful to the enamel in the first half an hour after drinking soda, given the acid has just started acting. Make sure you wait for a minimum of thirty minutes before brushing.
Soft drink lovers are also recommended to refrain from consuming sugary beverages before going to bed. Having a few sips of soda only moments before bedtime gives liquid sugar a chance to keep attacking your teeth until morning, as well as keep you awake because of the caffeine.
How soda affects overall health?
Apart from causing extreme damage to oral health, soft drinks are infamous for affecting the overall health of individuals adversely. The high amounts of fructose in sugary drinks increase calorie intake while stimulating no feeling of fullness. As a result, people end up consuming more calories than intended, which in turn leads to weight gain.
Moreover, the liver is the only organ in charge of metabolizing fructose, unlike glucose, which is metabolized by each body cell. In the event of ingesting large amounts of fructose, this organ becomes overloaded, hence transforming fructose into fat instead of energy. Also, abnormal sugar consumption results in the formation of visceral fat, referring to the fat around the belly.
In addition, soft drinks are considered responsible for triggering a condition known as insulin resistance. This type of resistance is the main culprit for the development of metabolic syndrome, increasing the risk of heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Even a single can of soda or energy drink per day boosts the risk of developing such a disease.
Another adverse effect of sugary beverages on health is their ability to trigger leptin resistance. Leptin is known as the fullness hormone, responsible for promoting satiety. Excessive consumption of soft drinks makes the body resistant to leptin, thus increasing the amount of fat gain.
Ultimately, soft beverages are believed to induce the majority of risk factors related to the development of heart disease, such as cholesterol, high blood sugar, triglycerides, etc. The consumption of one such beverage on a daily basis increases the risk of having a heart attack for as many as twenty percent.
How to remove soda stains from teeth?
People who already have their teeth stained from drinking sugary beverages can eliminate such stains by using teeth-whitening products or natural remedies. The former are available in the form of teeth-whitening kits, whitening toothpaste, trays, and rinse.
Teeth-whitening kits are a convenient method of eliminating soda stains, as these are provided by dentists for patients to use at home. These kits are either in the form of liquid packs or teeth-whitening strips, both of which contain hydrogen peroxide. The former consist of a hydrogen peroxide solution, guards, and syringes. The solution is supposed to be applied to the guards, each liquid pack containing two guards for the upper and lower teeth.
For optimal application, individuals are supposed to use the syringes included in the pack. Make sure to follow the instructions on the pack, as different products require users to wear the trays for different amounts of time. For instance, some guards should be worn overnight, whereas others for as many as four hours during the day. Your teeth are likely to acquire a lighter shade in approximately a one-month period of using them regularly.
Teeth-whitening strips are a sought-after kit for eliminating soda stains owing to the ability of hydrogen peroxide to slip into the enamel. These kits are even more convenient to use, as you’re only supposed to peel the back of the strip and place it on the teeth. The strips should be kept for as long as thirty minutes, twice daily during a period of two weeks. Bear in mind that teeth-whitening strips induce teeth sensitivity after using them for a longer period.
Another effective method of removing soda stains is using a whitening toothpaste, approved by the ADA (American Dental Association). This toothpaste should be used at least two times a day in order to see results after a few weeks. Unlike teeth-whitening kits, this toothpaste isn’t capable of eliminating deep soda stains because of its inability to enter the interior part of teeth. Make sure the one you purchase contains blue covarine, which is considered the most efficient against discoloration.
Individuals who aren’t keen on using teeth-whitening products are suggested to try natural remedies in the fight against stains caused by sugary beverages. For example, baking soda is a well-known remedy in the treatment of tooth discoloration. You can either apply it directly or make a paste of water and a small amount of baking soda.
Another popular type of homemade whitening paste is the one containing baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. A teaspoon of the former and five drops of the latter are enough for making a creamy paste. Nevertheless, this treatment isn’t supposed to be applied frequently to prevent irritation.
Baking soda is used in the formation of another teeth-whitening paste in combination with lemon. A few drops of lemon and a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate should be mixed into a paste. Make sure you leave the paste on the teeth for no more than three minutes.
Final thoughts
Those incapable of giving up soda should use prevention methods and teeth-whitening solutions to eliminate staining!
