How does soft drinks affect children’s teeth ?

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Do Soft Drinks Damage Baby Teeth?

It has been a question of concern since ages whether children should be allowed to drink soft drinks or not; whether aerated drinks hamper the child’s teeth or not.

Children should not be allowed to drink soft drinks as it hampers the child’s teeth.

 

Soft drinks are very destructive to children’s teeth. Their contents are:

1) Processed sugar

2) Carbonic acid

3) Citric acid

4) Phosphoric acid.

 

How does soft drink hamper my child’s teeth?

The different contents in a soft drink react differently with the tooth. The acid in sodas slowly dissolves the enamel of children’s teeth. The sugar provides food for the bacteria which cause early childhood caries. Early childhood caries, ECC, is a disease that afflicts many children.

 

Soft drink consumption by children can increase the susceptibility to dental problems. Moreover, these soft drinks have a high proportion of caffeine and sugar. This can decrease a child’s appetite, as well as displace protein- and calcium-rich foods necessary for normal growth.

 

Mainly four factors are required for the creation of a cavity in a tooth:

1)A susceptible tooth

2)Acid-producing bacteria

3)Fermentable carbohydrates

4)Repeated exposures to sugar

 

Soft drinks have both sucrose(sugar) and acid. Thus, the ingredients in soft drinks can contribute to early childhood caries disease, and promote the subsequent destruction of tooth structure in children.

 

The initial stage of caries development can be detected. A white spot/lesion on a tooth is an early sign of caries development.

Avoid giving soft drinks to your child and visit a dentist twice a year to prevent caries, help in early detection and treatment.

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One thought on “How does soft drinks affect children’s teeth ?

  • Aayushi

    Avoid giving soft drinks to your child and visit a dentist twice a year to prevent caries, help in early detection and treatment.

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