“Sip all day, get decay”
It’s no secret there exists a strong link between soda consumption and tooth decay. The “Sip All Day, Get Decay” slogan isn’t just meant to be a catchy tagline – it’s literally the truth!
Sugar in soda combines with bacteria in your mouth to form acid, which attacks the teeth. Diet or “sugar-free” soda contains its own acid, which also can damage teeth. Each attack lasts about 20 minutes, and starts over with every sip of soda you take.
These effects on your teeth can be extremely damaging. In fact, in the dental community we talk about “Mountain Dew mouth” the same way we talk about “meth mouth” (don’t Google it). In other words, damage from sodas like Mountain Dew can look very similar to damage from drug abuse. Both can produce rampant, deep decay in many or all teeth.
Short of telling you to give up soda completely, the biggest piece of advice we can give you is to do your soda drinking all at once with a meal (versus sipping on soda all day long) and clean your teeth when you’re done . That way the sugar and acid don’t have time to do serious tooth damage before they’re washed away.
- Try less acidic alternatives, like water or herbal tea.
- Rinse with water after drinking soda.
- Brush your teeth after you drink soda and use a good mouthwash daily.
- Get regular cleanings to get in all the nooks and crannies that are hard to reach with a regular toothbrush.
- Eat the right foods to keep your mouth and body healthy.
