Most people are aware of the damaging effect that fizzy drinks have on their health and the fact that they have been linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
However, what many people still do not realize is the negative impact these beverages can have on their teeth.
According to a recent analysis, drinking large amounts of fizzy drinks every day for a few years could cause damage to the teeth comparable to the damage caused by drugs like crack cocaine and methamphetamine.
Commenting on the research, Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said that the key message was to cut down on the amounts of such beverages consumed. He explained that when a person drinks a fizzy or sweet drink, their teeth are exposed to an attack for up to one hour. The best defense from acids in drinks is saliva, which usually takes up to an hour to neutralise the effect of the drink. If these drinks are consumed through the entire day, saliva cannot help teeth and they start decaying, Carter added.
The foundation recommends that if people want to have a snack during the day, they should eat and drink products that will benefit their oral health, such as nuts, cheese, water or diluted juice. Chewing sugar-free gum is also recommended because it helps saliva to fight plaque and reduce the damage from unhealthy snacks.
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