Soft Drinks, Soft Teeth

I've got how many cavities?

An alarming trend I've noticed more in the past few years is multiple areas of tooth decay related to consumption of carbonated beverages. The symptoms are similar to those seen in infants with nursing bottle syndrome. Just about every tooth in the head has some decay or at least decalcified areas at or near the gum line. Soda drinks are doubly damaging to teeth. Sugars in the beverage feed bacteria which produce acid. The acid eats away at tooth enamel with bad results. In addition to decay, the acid opens up tubules in the dentin making the teeth more sensitive.

It isn't so bad if you drink a soda every once in a while, but many people drink constantly throughout the day. The other dangerous feature of soda drinks is their acidity. The acid in colas can reduce a molar tooth to jelly in about 24 hours. If you soak your teeth in soda for most of the day, well... you do the math. If you must drink cola drinks, do so sparingly, with meals, and rinse or brush afterwords. Drinking diet colas makes no difference. Remember that prevention is the best dental treatment!

Tahmassebi JF, Duggal MS, Malik-Kotru G, Curzon ME.
Soft drinks and dental health: a review of the current literature.
J Dent. 2006 Jan;34(1):2-11

Sohn W, Burt BA, Sowers MR
Carbonated soft drinks and dental caries in the primary dentition.
J Dent Res. 2006 Mar;85(3):262-6.

Moynihan P.
The interrelationship between diet and oral health.
Proc Nutr Soc. 2005 Nov;64(4):571-80.