For Whiter Teeth, Cut Down On Cola Drinks

What is the one thing that’s making it more difficult than anything else for you to maintain a whiter, healthier smile? Believe it or not, the answer could be your cola intake, especially if you are drinking colas with lots of added sugar.

Many people have seen viral videos on the internet where cola has been used to clean metals, has been boiled down to show just how much syrup is used in it or — perhaps most tellingly — has been used to soak and ultimately destroy a lost tooth.

While moderate cola intake is not necessarily a problem, eliminating cola drinks is one of the fastest changes that you can make if you want to make your teeth more healthy. Instead, you can substitute water, milk, and some teas.

What Is It About Cola That’s So Bad For Your Teeth?

There are several different issues in play when you are drinking cola. One of them is the fact that cola, like some juices and a variety of other foods, is highly acidic. Contact with acids will wear down the enamel of your teeth and make cavities more likely.

Of course, the dark coloration of cola is an issue as well. All dark drinks, including cola and coffee, are more likely to stain your teeth than other drinks. These colored particles sink down into the tiny holes in the uppermost layers of tooth enamel.

Stains may not be pleasant, but they don’t typically affect the health of your teeth. Instead, the main issue has to do with the high sugar content in cola drinks. Sugar serves as a fuel for the bacteria that begins to colonize your teeth very shortly after eating.

Once you eat, it takes about fifteen to twenty minutes for bacteria to begin colonizing your teeth in large numbers. It’s generally a good idea to avoid brushing your teeth immediately after you eat, but to do it shortly after this window of time.

However, sugar can accelerate the process and can give bacteria more of the materials they need to effectively bore into your tooth enamel, making you more prone to cavities. Combine this with the effects of acidity on your teeth and it can be significant.

This Isn’t The Only Neat Trick For Better Teeth

Want to find out more about how you can get better, stronger teeth? Call Community Dental Group, the dentist of choice for thousands of people in communities all across California.