Does drinking soft drinks harm teeth and orthodontic braces?

Last update: 04-08-1404

Confirming doctor: Dr. Saeed Qureshi

Author: Elahe Panahi

Dental orthodontics is not only limited to bracket installation and regular visits. The patient's lifestyle and eating habits play a decisive role in the success of this treatment process. One of the most important influencing factors in this direction is the consumption of sweet, carbonated and acidic drinks such as soft drinks, which are often ignored. This popular drink can cause hidden and sometimes irreparable problems for teeth and orthodontics. Therefore, in this article, we will carefully examine **the effect of soft drinks on orthodontics** and express the side effects of excessive consumption of these types of drinks. Stay with us for more information and better care of teeth in orthodontic course.

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Why is drinking soda harmful in orthodontics? - High sugar - High acidity - Effect on brackets - Changing the color of the teeth A correct understanding of **the effect of soft drinks on orthodontics** requires familiarity with the nature and structure of this treatment. For more information, refer to what is dental orthodontics page. ### The effect of soft drinks on fixed orthodontics What is the effect of carbonated and sweet drinks on fixed orthodontics? In fixed orthodontics, brackets and wires are permanently placed on the teeth, which makes it more difficult to keep the dental surfaces clean. Having sugary and acidic compounds, soft drinks provide the conditions for the growth of bacteria that cause tooth decay and cause damage to the tooth enamel in the areas around the brackets. These damages often appear as white spots or point rots after the treatment is over. In addition, fixed orthodontic metal brackets and wires become dark and dull and lose their strength in long-term contact with soda acid. Phosphoric acid in soft drinks weakens the adhesive of brackets over time and causes them to loosen or separate from the tooth surface. The combination of these events not only disrupts the treatment, but also requires more restoration and spending more time, which results in an increase in the cost of orthodontics. For this reason, avoiding soft drinks during treatment with fixed orthodontics is particularly important. ### The effect of soft drinks on invisible orthodontics Although ceramic orthodontic brackets are made of anti-stain materials, continuous drinking of soda during the treatment period can be harmful. Acidity and the presence of a lot of sugar in soft drinks cause the color of brackets to change and create permanent stains on the teeth, which has a negative effect on the appearance of the teeth, especially the front teeth. In invisible orthodontics with transparent aligners, drinking soft drinks while the aligner is inside the mouth can cause the color of the transparent plaque to change or become cloudy. Orthodontics experts recommend to avoid **the effect of soft drinks on orthodontics**, stop drinking this drink during the treatment period, and if you do, brush your teeth immediately and wash plaques and brackets well. \*\]:pointer-events-auto \[content-visibility:auto\] supports-\[content-visibility:auto\]:\[contain-intrinsic-size:auto\_100lvh\] scroll-mt-\[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))\]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1">

Acidic drinks can weaken the adhesive of orthodontic brackets in two ways: 1. It directly destroys the structure of adhesive materials. 2. It wears down the surface of the tooth enamel around the brackets, and as a result, it reduces the strength of the bracket's adhesion to the tooth.

Effects of soda on teeth Continuous drinking of soft drinks has harmful effects on the health of the mouth and teeth due to its strong acidity and high sugar content. The most important side effects of soft drinks for teeth are: - Tooth enamel erosion due to the presence of phosphoric acid and citric acid in soft drinks - Rapid growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth and increasing the possibility of tooth decay - Color change and staining and darkness on the surface of the teeth - Stimulation of the soft tissue of the mouth, increasing the possibility of inflammation and gingivitis - Providing conditions for the growth of bacteria by reducing the amount of saliva and increasing dry mouth - The formation of dental plaque and calculus as a result of remaining sugar and soda acid in the mouth If you have any questions about ways to prevent damage to braces and teeth during orthodontics or if you want to know what to eat on the first day of orthodontics, be sure to consult your orthodontist.