It is springtime in Mississauga and that means it is the season for backyard parties. Any good party will have a variety of delicious drinks to try. Some choices will be unhealthy for your teeth and gums and could be a contributing factor in periodontal disease. Let’s take a closer look.
When selecting your beverage at a party the best thing you can do for your teeth is avoid sugary drinks. Taking it one step further, avoid sugary drinks that contain a mix of high sugar content and acid levels that are less than a neutral pH of 5. Some of the better-known culprits with a high sugar low acid combination are Root Beer, Red Bull, Coke Classic, Sunkist Orange Soda, SoBe Energy Citrus and Mountain Dew.
Together the combination of high sugar and low pH marries the four ingredients that must be present to begin tooth decay. These four ingredients include oral bacteria, sugar, acid and time. It has been researched and proven that each time a drink with high sugar and low acid content is sipped there is an acid attack on the teeth for 15-20 minutes. As a result if you are sipping all day on these drinks your teeth will be under constant attack with no time to recover and fight back. In this environment tooth decay can begin.
Tooth decay is caused when bacteria that thrives on the sugars is left in the mouth for extended periods of time. If these bacteria stick to your teeth, it allows acid production to build up, which can eat through the enamel leaving teeth susceptible to tooth decay, and potentially, periodontal disease.
The best thing you can do is make sure you have water after a sugary drink to rinse out your mouth and give your teeth a chance to recover. Another solution is chew sugar free gum. Chewing sugar free gum will increase saliva production for a natural clean. These actions are a step in the right direction for periodontal disease prevention.
Additional tips to fight against periodontal disease include:
- Brush your teeth 2 x day
- Floss daily
- Avoid sugar or acidic beverages before bed
- Cleanse your mouth with water in between consuming sugary drinks and food
- Use straws to minimize contact
For further information on periodontal disease risk factors and prevention contact the Periodontal Associates in Mississauga. The team here at Periodontal Associates will be happy to answer all of your questions. Contact us today at 647-360-974 for a full consultation.
