Q&As

Beverages & Oral Health

Do soft drink beverages contribute to poor dental health?

Not necessarily. However, you cannot single out one food or beverage as causing dental caries or erosion considering so many factors determine individual dental health. Dental health is determined by many different factors, including the types of food consumed, the length of time foods are retained in the mouth, and the level of oral hygiene and access to professional dental care. For instance, sticky foods like crackers and cookies that tend to stay in the mouth longer and/or cling to teeth can be a significant source of dental cavities. In contrast, liquids that contain sugar, such as soft drinks or sweetened beverages, clear the mouth quickly and can be less a cause of cavities.

Has the number of dental cavities increased over the years?

In fact, the number of dental cavities has been steadily decreasing in the past several years. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in an August 2005 report documented improvements in oral health among the civilian U.S. population, finding, “The decline in the prevalence and severity of dental caries in permanent teeth, reported in previous national surveys, continued during 1988-1994 and 1999-2002. This decline has occurred in both crowns and roots, across sex, race/ethnicity, poverty status, education level and smoking status. It has benefited children, adolescents and adults.”

Do sports drinks impact teeth enamel more than other drinks?

There is no single cause of dental erosion, and there are numerous factors that can contribute to it besides various foods and beverages. A person’s susceptibility to dental erosion varies depending on a person's behavior, lifestyle, diet and genetic make-up. General dental health has improved due to many factors, including better oral hygiene, water fluoridation and frequent dental check-ups.

The facts demonstrate that there are multiple causes of dental erosion and many protective factors that can help prevent or minimize it. It is irresponsible to blame foods, beverages or any other single factor for enamel loss and tooth decay.