Why You Should Stop The Pop!

Did you know that the average American drinks approximately 53 gallons of soda each year? That’s a whopping 20 – 5 gallon buckets. That’s more soda than the picture of 5 gallon water buckets shown here! Here at Kopp Dental in Elmhurst Il, we are urging you to “Stop The Pop!” If you are one of the millions of American’s consuming this much sugar per year, you really need to ask your self, ” What is sugar actually doing to my health?”

Have you ever looked at the back of a soda can? Perhaps you have seen that a regular can of soda, which is 12 ounces, has about 150 calories. There is no fat, and hardly any sodium one might argue. But there is sugar! So how much sugar is in one bottle of soda? Well, most bottles of soda are 20 ounces. 20 ounces of soda has 69 grams of sugar, divide that by 4 and it means that there is over 17 sugar packets in a 20 ounce soda bottle. Those “super-sized” cups have more than five cans of soda in just one serving!

There are major health risks associated with large amounts of soda consumption. If you’re at risk for diabetes, lots of sugar can be very harmful. When your body digests sugar, the pancreas releases insulin to help you use the sugar energy. If you consume too much sugar, you can wear out your pancreas. There is also weight gain associated with soda consumption. Even one soda per day adds 150 calories. Since there are 3500 calories per pound, one soda per day adds 15.64 pounds per year! That’s more than enough reason to Stop The Pop…

Now let’s talk about the effect soda has on your smile. Your smile is one of the first things that other people notice about you. Each regular soft drink contains an average of 10 teaspoons of sugar, and the more sugar you have in your diet, the greater the risk of cavities. When the sugar in soda drinks and the bacteria in your mouth mix, acid forms. Every acid attack lasts approximately 20 minutes, and the process begins again with every drink you take. If these acid attacks repeat, it will eventually eat away at your tooth enamel. Diet soda isn’t safe either. It contains its own acid. If you don’t stop the pop right away, cavities will begin when the sugars and acids eat away at and damage the enamel. Your jaw is made of bone and as your bones become weak from not getting enough calcium, your ability to hang onto your teeth will become more difficult as well. Your teeth will begin to rot away and fall out. If this is not enough, the artificial coloring in soda drinks will also stain your teeth.

If you do consume an occasional soda there are a few things one might do to prevent damage to your teeth. After drinking a soft drink, it is important to brush and floss. If you can’t, try to rinse your mouth out with water to help dilute the sugar. Don’t drink soda or juice before going to bed. The liquid will collect in your mouth and coat your teeth and tongue with acid and sugar. Flossing every day will help remove plaque and other debris between your teeth and along your gum line. Lastly, brush at least two times a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Remember, it is always important to visit your dentist for regular checkups to maintain a healthy and beautiful smile. Kopp Dental & Associates are here in Elmhurst to help you make smart decisions about your food intake and what drinks are o.k in order for you to maintain healthy gums and enamel. If you have any questions at all, please call our number at (630) 941-8398 to schedule an appointment or a consultation. Please stay tuned for more “Stop The Pop” campaign posts on social media. We will be posting great educational videos along with statistics to prove you need to stay away from soft drinks and pop beverages.