You only have one set of adult teeth, and they need to last until you are 80, 90, or beyond. The actions you take towards your teeth today will either benefit you or harm you in the future. Of course, good dental care starts with seeing a dentist regularly. You should go in for cleanings and checkups, and any other time you think something might be amiss with your teeth. Education is important when it comes to any aspect of your health, so start reading the articles on this website to educate yourself about dentists and dental care. We promise that when you're 80 and you still have your teeth, you won't regret the time spent.
The Tooth of the Matter: A Dental Blog
Triple-Whammy: This Is Why Your Teeth Hurt When You Drink Soda
Sofia Curtis
It may seem like the oddest thing. You may be able to go through your daily life without your teeth hurting at all until you take a sip of soda, and then wham, your teeth feel miserable. If you're curious as to why this is, read this guide to find out.
Sugar
The first thing that's likely having an impact is sugar. All regular sodas contain sugar, and sugar is a big problem for teeth.
Now, it's unlikely that the sugar is impacting your tooth directly, but what it is doing is essentially feeding bacteria that are attacking your tooth anyway. The sugar essentially feeds the bacteria and allows it to produce more plaque and tartar, and to worsen its attack on your gums and teeth. This may be one of the reasons why you're experiencing discomfort.
Bubbles
Another reason is the carbonation that the average soda contains. These bubbles are essentially harmless on teeth that are healthy and intact, but if something is wrong with your tooth, that may not be the case. For example, if the tooth enamel on your tooth has worn down, the bubbles may be touching some of the underlying surfaces of your tooth and inducing a great deal of pain as a result. If that weren't enough, if this is the case, the bubbles may very well be damaging your teeth in those areas.
Acid
Another problem is the acid contained in soda. This is more common with fruity beverages, but nearly all sodas contain some citric acid as an additive, and sometimes as a preservative. This citric acid can wreak havoc even on healthy teeth by temporarily softening the dental enamel. This can make the bubble problem worse, too.
However, if your teeth are already damaged, the acid will just make matters worse. Citric acid can damage the softer structures of your teeth, and in the short-term, it can inflame the nerve endings, leading to you experiencing a sensation of pain. In other words, sodas are a triple whammy of problems that you should avoid if you're experiencing pain.
It's important to note that simply avoiding soda is unlikely to solve your problems. The soda effect is most likely an early warning sign to you that there's a problem - now it's up to you to visit a dentist to have that problem fixed. Don't hesitate - get to the dentist before all food and drinks are hurting your teeth and it turns out that you have a big issue.
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