We all know that candy, cakes, and sodas aren’t the best things in the world to eat, but sometimes you can’t help it – they just taste so good! With the healthy-lifestyle trend that our society has been gravitating towards, sugary items such as sugar-saturated drinks have been gaining a lot of attention. Governments are even stepping up in hopes of protecting citizens from the harmful impacts of sugary drinks.
Philadelphia became the first major metropolitan to pass a bill that places a sales tax of 1.5 cents an ounce to all sugar or artificially sweetened drinks sold by distributors in the city. These taxes will increase prices of beverages by 30 cents for a 20-ounce drink, or $2.16 for a 12-pack.
Sugar has been linked to many health problems like obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay/erosion, to name a few. We understand that you and your family may want to indulge in these tasty treats, especially a refreshing soda on a hot summer day; so we’ve come up with a list of ways you can reduce the risk to your teeth:
- Drink soft drinks only in moderation. Try not to make them a multiple-a-day or every-day habit.
- Use a straw so your teeth are less exposed to the sugar and acid in the drink.
- Take a drink of water, preferably tap water that has been fluoridated, after a sugary or acidic drink to help rinse out your mouth and dilute the sugars.
- Protect your teeth by using fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash that contains fluoride. Fluoride helps to reduce cavities and strengthen tooth enamel.
- Don’t brush your teeth right away. Wait at least one hour so your teeth can recover and your enamel can reharden before you brush.
- Never drink sugary or acidic drinks before you go to bed, the liquid will coat your teeth with sugar and acid and attack your teeth while you sleep.
- Natural fruit juices are another way to provide a bit of sweetness in a healthy way. However, make sure you are purchasing real fruit juices with a juice content higher than 10 percent. Cut the fruit juice with seltzer water to further minimize the amount of sugar.
- Visit the dentist twice a year for cleanings and checkups.
If you have any questions regarding your teeth’s health, please do not hesitate to call the team at Advanced Dentistry at 610-489-5555. We’d be more than happy to help!
