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Save Your Teeth
Lay Off the Soda
Did your last dental checkup find you sinking lower and lower
into the dental chair with each cavity your dentist found? If
so, one of the first questions you may want to ask yourself is
this: are soft drinks a big part of your daily routine? If you
answered “yes”, you may want to re-think your dietary
habits.
Some of the worst cases of dental decay that I have seen
involve sodas, or sweetened (prepared) iced tea. One 12 oz. can
of soda averages about 12 teaspoons of sugar. That’s basically
liquid sugar. Just cut it out. Read the ingredient list on the
bottle or can. Be aware of added concentrates, syrups and
juices used to sweeten the drink. If it states high fructose
corn syrup (HFCS), read “sugar”.
Imagine sitting next to someone in a restaurant or diner as you
watch them put a teaspoon of sugar into a mug of coffee. Then
they proceed to put in eleven more! You might just do a
double-take. And yet most people don’t even blink when
consuming a can or bottle of soda. Many children (and adults)
drink it by the liter.
Aside from the sugar that soft drinks contain, you are
essentially giving your teeth an acid bath every time you drink
a can or bottle. It’s pretty strong stuff. I understand some
cola will loosen rusty nuts on bolts, or even clean battery
terminals! Just try to keep it out of your body. If you need
help weaning yourself off of the sugar, speak to your doctor
about it right away. You will be happy to know there are
healthy alternatives. Apart from enamel erosion, drinking soda
has been linked to diabetes, formation of kidney stones,
osteoporosis and even low potassium levels with associated
muscle weakness.
Cutting back on (or preferably eliminating) soda may be one of
the most significant things you can do to help your teeth --
and the rest of your body.
by Dr. Richard J. Walicki - June 23, 2009
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Dr. Richard J. Walicki is a Philadelphia dentist providing
both general and cosmetic dentistry
services.
Pick up a copy of Dr.Walicki's short summary (*FREE*) A Few
Tips to Take Control of Your Dental Health by clicking
HERE.
Source: http://www.ToothWiz.com
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