On a hot summer's day, having an iced coke, the coolness and the pleasure of bubbles exploding on the tip of the tongue can always dispel the heat and fatigue instantly, which makes people enjoy themselves. But this seemingly harmless "happy fat house water" hides a "chronic crisis" aimed at dental health. If you don't pay attention, your mouth may fall into an ambush on all sides.
The harm of cola to teeth mainly comes from its internal "double attack"-acid and sugar. Cola contains acidic components such as phosphoric acid and carbonic acid, which will rapidly reduce the pH value of oral environment. Although our enamel is one of the hardest tissues in human body, it is very fragile in the acidic environment with low pH value. When the pH value is lower than 5.5, enamel begins to demineralize and dissolve, while the pH value of cola is usually around 2.5, which is undoubtedly a strong impact on enamel. Drinking Coke for a long time and frequently is like keeping your teeth immersed in acid solution. The surface of enamel will gradually become rough, lose luster, and even appear defects, and your teeth will become sensitive and fragile. Drinking cold water and eating sweets may make people feel cold.
At the same time, a large amount of sugar in cola provides a rich "banquet" for bacteria in the mouth. These "greedy" bacteria will catabolize sugar and produce more acidic substances, which will aggravate the process of tooth erosion. Under the repeated erosion of acid, the hard tissues of teeth are constantly destroyed, and dental caries come quietly. At first, there may only be some small white spots or shallow cavities on the tooth surface. If measures are not taken in time, the cavities will gradually deepen and expand until they invade the pulp tissue, causing severe toothache and seriously affecting chewing function and daily life.
In addition to causing dental caries and acid erosion, the pigment in cola will slowly deposit on the surface of teeth, making the teeth gradually lose their original white luster and become yellow and dark, which will affect the appearance. For people who are in the orthodontic period, cola will also have a bad influence on the bonding of metal brackets of orthodontic appliances on the tooth surface, and even corrode the restoration materials, which will bring many troubles to orthodontics.
However, there is no need for coke lovers to panic excessively. The key lies in scientific drinking and protective measures. First of all, it is necessary to control the amount of drinking water, not as daily drinking water, and the daily intake should be reduced as much as possible. When drinking, you can use a straw to let cola quickly enter the esophagus through the mouth, reducing the contact time and area with teeth. Don't brush your teeth immediately after drinking cola, because the enamel has been softened by acid at this time, and brushing your teeth may aggravate the wear. It is recommended to rinse your mouth with clear water first, and then brush your teeth after the pH value of your mouth gradually recovers and saliva forms a protective layer on the tooth surface. Generally, it is appropriate to wait for about half an hour. In addition, we should eat more foods rich in calcium and vitamins in our daily diet to enhance the acid resistance and self-repair ability of teeth. Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste both in the morning and at night. Fluoride helps to rebuild the enamel and makes teeth more resistant to acid attack.
Dental health is related to overall health. Although Coke can bring temporary happiness, we can't be carried away by this happiness. Only when we enjoy delicious food, we should always be vigilant and actively prevent its potential harm to teeth, so that this happiness can no longer be at the expense of tooth health, and our teeth can always remain firm and bright, and bloom a healthy and charming smile.
