News
WDA targets excessive soda consumption
Delta Dental Plan of Wisconsin has provided funding to support a campaign launched by the Wisconsin Dental Association to increase awareness of the dangers of excessive soda pop consumption, particularly among young people.
There has been a steady rise in soft drink consumption over the years, especially among kids, teens and young adults. The overall increase has been accompanied by a change in the way people consume those beverages as well-it's quite common now for some people to always have a can or bottle of soda pop nearby, sipping every few minutes throughout the entire day.
That's the core target of WDA's new campaign, dubbed "Sip All Day, Get Decay." The acidic nature of nearly all types of soda, diet and regular, and the sugar content of regular sodas, are especially damaging to teeth and gums if they are consumed on a steady basis. Here's how it works:
* Sugar in pop combines with bacteria in your mouth to form acid.
* Diet or sugar-free pop contains its own acid.
* The acid attacks your teeth. Each acid attack lasts about 20 minutes, and starts over again with every sip.
The good news is that you can minimize the risk of damage without having to give up soft drinks entirely. Here are some tips from a brochure available from WDA member dentists:
* Drink soft drinks in moderation.
* Don't sip for extended periods of time. Ongoing sipping prolongs sugar and
acid attacks on your teeth.
* Use a straw to minimize the amount of sugar that gets on your teeth.
* After drinking, rinse your mouth out with water.
* Don't drink pop or juice before bedtime, because the liquid pools in your
mouth and coats your tongue and teeth with sugar and acid.
Finally, one of the best things you can do is to drink water instead of pop. It has no sugar, no acid and no calories. And don't forget to see you dentists regularly for checkups and cleanings.
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