Sodas may need warning labels to protect teeth

If you want healthy teeth, then it’s important for you to to avoid foods and drinks that have been shown to contribute to decay. For example, hard candies are filled with sugar which acts as bacteria for the mouth, and if you bite down on these sweets you may crack or damage your teeth. Sour sweets and acidic foods can also wear away at tooth enamel, which is why it’s important for you to only eat these things sporadically.

One of the worst things for your teeth is soda, according to the Colgate Oral and Dental Health Resource Center. Not only does soda contain sugar that can harm your enamel, it is also highly acidic. This is why even sugar-free sodas may damage your dental health. Recently, Health Canal published an article reporting on a study from the University of Adelaide which found that soft drinks may need to include warning labels explaining the potential dangers these drinks pose to teeth.

According to the scientists, soft drinks are truly dangerous on many different levels, and people need to understand this, especially before they give soft drinks to children.

“There is growing scrutiny on sweet drinks, especially soft drinks, because of a range of detrimental health effects on adults and children,” researcher Jason Armfield, Ph.D., from the Australian Research Center for Population Oral Health at the University of Adelaide’s School of Dentistry told Health Canal. “Tooth decay carries with it significant physical, social and health implications, and we believe the risk of tooth decay should be included in any warnings relating to sweet drinks.”

The researchers suggested that rather than soda, parents give their children fluoridated water and other drinks that can boost dental health. For example, milk contains calcium which is an essential part of healthy teeth and bones.

To learn about our family dentistry practice in Peoria, call Maple Shade Dental Group today or make an appointment.