Have you seen the commercials of families passing around a bottle of soda, creating happy memories at the dinner table? Well according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, much more than happy memories will happen if you buy these soda products for your family.
Consuming soft drinks can have a negative effect on your child’s dental health as soda’s primary ingredient is sugar. Any diet soda drinkers? Along with regular, diet soda contains acid (this gives the soda carbonation) that eats away at the outer protective layer on your teeth, also known as the enamel. Once this layer is gone it can never be replaced.
The solution to this problem is as easy as eliminating these beverages from your home. However, you must be wary of other drinks that are equally as unhealthy for your child as soda, such as fruit juices, sports drinks, and even sugar-free drinks. Plain water and white milk are the best for your child as they continue to grow.
As your child becomes a teenager it will be more difficult to monitor the amount of sugary and acidic drinks they are consuming. We understand that your teen may occasionally drink a soda, so the key here is an education!
• Encourage them to swallow right away instead of swishing the drink around in their mouth.
• Drink out of a straw so most of the beverage will bypass the teeth.
• Drinking these beverages with meals or on a special occasion is best.
• Drink the soda all at once instead of sipping on it for a long period of time. Tip: A screw top bottle will encourage them to sip longer whereas a can encourages a faster consumption
• Rinse with water or chew sugar-free gum afterward.
Last but not least, make sure your child sees their pediatric dentist once every 6 months. We are a wonderful asset in educating your child on the harmfulness of soda to their teeth. Early visits mean early education for your child and your whole family.
Updated: June 1, 2018