Posts for tag: Sugar Bugs
Photo by SteveStJude
In the year 2000, Americans consumed more than 53 gallons of soft drinks! This surpassed all other beverages; such as, water, coffee, milk, and even beer. Soft drinks have replaced other nutritious beverages and one out of every four beverages consumed in the U.S. is a soft drink.
The American Dental Association categorizes “soft drinks” as any beverage that contains sugar, carbonation, or acidic products. This would include many juices and also sports drinks. If you consume sports drinks, it’s recommended that you swollow the drink right away and not swish it in your mouth. If you wear a mouth guard you should rinse the mouth guard with water after consuming sports drinks.
Any soft drink that is high in sugar can lead to dental caries and enamel erosion. People who consume three or more sugary beverages a day have 17-62% higher dental caries than people who consumed no soft drinks at all. Just remember, if you’re going to drink soft drinks or eat sugary foods, try to brush afterwards and avoiding sipping all day long!
