Learn Why It is Important to Avoid Drinking an Acidic Beverage

Highly Acidic Beverages and Your Teeth

Highly acidic beverages can cause the most damage to your teeth. An acidic beverages, such as fruit juices, teas, and energy drinks, can harm the enamel of the teeth and cause them to turn from white to yellow. When drinking these beverages, the teeth are smothered by the harmful acids and sugars in the drinks. The dangers of acids in these drinks cause the enamel to slowly strip away from the teeth. The destruction of this protective layer then leaves the teeth vulnerable to cavities and other dental problems. If you actually placed a tooth in an acidic beverage, it would eventually dissolve the tooth entirely.

Energy drinks and sports drinks can cause the enamel of the teeth to deteriorate quicker than the acids in sodas and fruit juices. One reason energy drinks are so harmful is because they contain citric acid, which quickly wears away tooth enamel.

All sodas and carbonated beverages not only contain acids but harmful sugars, as do energy drinks. Excessive soda drinking can cause teeth to begin to crack, crumble, and even decay.

Citrus juices, such as lemon, grapefruit, and orange juice, can rapidly decrease large amounts of enamel from the teeth. Lemon juice erodes teeth the quickest.

Acidic Drinks

Highly Acidic Beverages and Your Health

Frequently consuming an acidic beverage not only cause harm to your teeth, but other areas of the body as well. People who suffer from acid reflux disease can be extremely sensitive to these drinks. People with this condition that continue to consume these beverages can cause the acids of the stomach to severely damage their stomach lining and the esophagus.

Carbonated beverages, typically those containing caffeine, are known to reduce the amount of calcium within the bones. This increases a persons risk for osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. This causes the bones to weaken and people often suffer from frequent broken and fractured bones. The dangers of acids in beverages can wreak havoc throughout the entire body, not just the mouth; therefor, they should be avoided and replace with healthy, sugar free drinks.

Reducing the Damage

To reduce the damage acidic beverages cause on the teeth, there are many tips you can use. It is best to avoid submerging the teeth in the acid. This means it is often recommended you drink the beverages using a straw. If you consume acidic beverages, you should brush your teeth well afterwards or rinse the mouth well.

To reduce the damage from acidic beverage to other areas of the body, you should limit the amount of the beverages that are consumed. It is best to substitute the beverages for water whenever possible. This does not mean you can never consume acidic beverages, it is just best to consume them in moderation.

References:

“Juices, Tea, and Energy Drinks Erode Teeth” CNN.com

“Commercial Soft Drinks” AGD.org

“Improper Consumption of Acidic Foods” Science Daily