Turn that Frown Upside Down About N.Y.'s Ban on Sugary Drinks

Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about the proposal to ban sugary drinks in New York.  (good thing we do not have to worry about this here in the Denver –Aurora, CO area.)  This can be disappointing to some as we all love a refreshing beverage now and again; however, we all may be inclined to smile more without them.  While we will leave it up the public to decide what they want, let’s take a look at what sugary drinks do to our dental health.

Let’s start with an example.  Water has a pH of 7 which is neutral and in the middle of the pH scale. Coca-Cola Classic has a pH of 2.4. This is a scary fact as the lower the pH, the more acidic. In fact, Coca-Cola is closer to battery acid, which has a pH of 1, than to water! Dr. Versman, Heller  and, Beckman, here at Periodontal Associates, sure hopes you are not feeding yourself or your kids battery acid!

Sure there are people out there who can drink small amounts of this acidic liquid while maintaining their teeth, but the likelihood of periodontal disease and the need for dental implants is increasing with the continually growing portion sizes of these loved sodas.  The danger is that tooth enamel can be softened by the acid and acidic sugars.  When soda drinking is paired with grinding teeth, improper home care, or other diseases, it can cause to tooth loss.

It is easy to think this will never happen to you, but in reality, Northwest Dentistry reported that some teenagers drink as many as 12 soft drinks a day. That is a good way to start the fight against periodontal disease at an early age and in no surprise has an outcome of 70-80% of adults suffering from periodontal disease.

As much as we love to see our clients, our first reaction is to prevent the need for dental implants before providing them. So NEVER FEAR, the dental implant team is here! At periodontal Associates, Dr. Versman, Heller, and Beckman are determined to repair, prevent further damage, and teach proper home care for both you and your children. We would love for you to come in for a consultation to learn more, and you can schedule an appointment here in the Denver - Aurora, CO area or call us at (303) 755-4500, as it is never too late to show love to your smile.