Hard Facts About Soft Drinks

*A bottle of soda pop in the 50’s was 6.5 ounces. Today, a 12-ounce can is standard and a 20-ounce bottle is common.

*Larger container sizes mean more calories, more sugar and more acid in a single serving. A 64-ounce “Big Cup” has more than five cans of soda pop in a single serving!

*There is no nutritional value in soft drinks. In regular soda pop all of the calories come from sugar.

*In addition to cavities, heavy soda pop consumption has been linked to diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis.

*One-fifth of all one- and two-year-old children drink soda pop.

*Today, teens drink three times more soda pop than 20 years ago, often replacing milk.

*Soft drink companies pay high schools and middle schools big bucks to offer their products.

*Dental  Sealants only protect tooth chewing surfaces. Soda pop decay tends to occur where sealants can’t reach.

How You Get Cavities

*Sugar  in soda pop combines with bacteria in your mouth to form acid.

*Diet or “sugar-free” soda pop contains its own acid.

*Acid in soft drinks, whether they contain sugar or not, is the primary cause of weakening tooth enamel.

*The acid attacks your teeth. Each acid attack lasts about 20 minutes.

*Ongoing acid attacks weaken your tooth enamel.

*Bacteria in your mouth cause cavities when tooth enamel is damaged

*If you have a receding gum line, acid does more damage below the gum line than above it. This is particularly a concern for adults.

What You Can Do

Reduce Decay: 9 Things to Start Doing Now

*Drink soft drinks in moderation.

*Don’t sip for extended periods of time. Ongoing sipping prolongs sugar and acid attacks on your teeth.

*Use a straw to keep the sugar away from your teeth.

*After drinking, swish your mouth out with water to dilute the sugar.

*Never drink soda pop or juice before bedtime because the liquid pools in your mouth and coats your tongue and teeth with sugar and acid.

*Read labels. Regular soda pop is high in sugar. And diet or “sugar-free” soda pop is high in acid. Sugar and acid are both bad for your teeth.

*Drink water instead of soft drinks. It has no sugar, no acid and no calories.

*Get regular checkups and cleanings to remove bacteria buildup (plaque). Floss, too.

*Use a fluoride toothpaste to protect your teeth.