How do fizzy drinks affect your child's teeth?

February 2, 2015
Image courtesy of Jerry Wood/Flickr

Risk of tooth decay is 59% higher
Out of the many things children always seem to want, fizzy drinks have been proven to be one of the most destructive to a child’s oral health. A recent study by the British Dental Journal has shown that they are the main cause for tooth erosion in children and adolescents. In fact, the investigation found that the risk of suffering from tooth decay was 59 per cent higher in twelve-year-olds who drank fizzy drinks than those who didn’t or stuck to sugar-free equivalents. 
Increases the risk of tooth erosion

Though many people continue to go along with older recommendations about how much to drink, the most recent research into the matter has shown that drinking fizzy drinks even once a day can significantly increase the chance of a child’s suffering from tooth erosion. 

Diet fizzy drinks aren’t safe either

There seems to be a common confusion amongst many parents these days between tooth erosion and decay, causing some to overlook harmful foods, and protect their child’s oral health insufficiently.

If you ask your dentist he will tell you it is true that substituting full-sugar drinks for their “diet” equivalents will reduce sugar intake, however this will only defend against tooth decay, which occurs when plaque reacts with sugar left on the surfaces of the teeth. Erosion, on the other hand, comes from the acidity of the substances themselves, which is prevalent in diet drinks, fruit juices and even squash. 
If you are concerned with the amount of soft drinks your child is going through, and plan to wean them off the sweet stuff for better dental health, it is completely understandable to do so bit by bit – these changes should ultimately lead to some healthy, daily habits. In the long run, you should be looking to switch to a fluoride toothpaste, which will help reduce cavities and strengthen the enamel of the teeth.   If you are especially concerned with any damage caused to your child’s teeth by acidic drinks, and your dentist shares your worries, they may also be able to apply a professional flouride treatment, in the form of a foam or gel.

This is a sponsored post.

Emily

I started Twin Mummy and Daddy in 2012.  

Over time Twin Mummy and Daddy has gone from strength to strength. I write about our family life, my love for running and our passion for adventure and travel.  

We’ve also started living a more eco-friendly life. As such I also write about our zero waste journey in a bid to encourage others to think about the impact they have on the environment.

I’m a keen runner and in April 2019 I ran the London Marathon for an amazing charity called WellChild. It’s one of my biggest achievements to date. I raised over £2,000 for the charity and learnt so much along the way.

This year we’re passionate about spending time outdoors. We’ll be sharing our travel, days out and camping adventures right here on Twin Mummy and Daddy.

1 Comments

  • Essentials

    February 5, 2015 at 7:16 pm

    Some foods do trigger canker sores so it is definitely a good idea to pay attention to diet

    Reply

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Prev Post Next Post