Or, Skip The Office Visit
for Braces & Invisalign
Or, Skip The Office Visit
Wearing braces comes with a handful of restrictions. While you may be well aware of what you shouldn’t eat, you need to also consider what you are drinking. Soft drinks can wreak havoc on your teeth, especially if you are wearing braces. Regular and diet sodas as well as energy drinks and sports drinks are known for being highly acidic. Unfortunately, acid can corrode your tooth enamel and cause irreversible tooth damage.
Acid pulls calcium out of the enamel, a process called decalcification. This makes the tooth soft to touch and vulnerable to cavities. Once enamel is lost, it cannot grow back. Many patients who wear braces may find that their teeth are streaked with white marks when their brackets come off. This is often a result of decalcification. While white marks can happen from plaque buildup, the additional acid that you bathe your teeth in when you drink soft drinks can greatly increase your risk. If your soft drink contains both high acid and high sugars, it is double trouble for your smile!
You may not realize that your drink is acidic, so it is important to have a basic understanding of the pH level of certain beverages. Pure water has a neutral pH rating of 7, with milk following closely behind at 6.7. A regular Coke, however, has a pH of 2.6. To put this in perspective, battery acid is ranked at a 1.0 pH!
When it comes to your beverage, choose wisely. After all, you are putting in hard work, money and time with your orthodontic treatment. The last thing you want to do is sabotage your pretty straight smile because you consumed too many sodas. If you do indulge in a soft drink or sports drink on occasion, be sure to rinse it down with water afterwards and get to your toothbrush shortly after. At Walton Orthodontics, we are committed to protecting the health of your teeth and gums while you are undergoing braces treatment. Even if you wear aligners, the damage from soft drinks on your teeth can be significant.
Walton Orthodontics
2609 Peachtree Pkwy, #C
Suwanee, GA 30024
(770) 663-0955
Dr. Walton, our 5-star rated Suwanee, GA, orthodontist specializes in orthodontic care for you or your child with the most advanced types of braces for children, teens, and adults. These types of braces include metal braces, clear braces, Invisalign, Invisalign Teen, Damon braces, In-Ovation braces, braces behind your teeth and short-term braces. Visit our convenient Suwanee orthodontic office serving patients in Suwanee, Cumming, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Duluth and Milton, GA. Call 770.663.0955 today for your or your child's complimentary, no-obligation consultation for braces or Invisalign today!
