What's Wrong With Soda?

Though most of us know that it's not a good idea to give our kids soda, few of us actually know why. "The number one reason to avoid sodas is that they don't have any nutritional value," say Dr. Martha Ann Keels and Dr.Cynthia Neal, pediatric dentists affiliated with Duke Children's Hospital. "The number two reason is that the acidity of sodas directly damages the outer tooth surface."

"Even those sodas that don't contain sugar pose a problem," says Dr. Keels. "Diet drinks are better because they don't contain sugar, but they're still just as acidic and that can harm your child's enamel." According to Dr. Keels, some sodas are less acidic than others. "Diet 7-up has a pH of 3.67. That makes it a healthier choice than Coke (pH 2.53) or Pepsi (pH 2.49). Water is still the best option. Water has a pH of 7. The closer a beverage's pH is to 7 the better," says Dr. Keels. The practitioners at Wake Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry agree. "Nothing is better for your child's teeth than water, with milk being a close second. Chocolate milk is a better alternative than either soda or juice. Parents should read the American Academy of Pediatrics Misuse of Juice Policy," says Dr. Keels. "Younger children should have no more than four ounces of juice or soda per day. Ideally, your child should not drink juice or soda. There is no nutritional value in either."

"Both the exposure to sugar and the amount of time your children's teeth are exposed are important," say the dentists at Wake Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry. "If they must have a soda, only offer it at meal time and brush their teeth afterward. Definitely don't let your kids sip soda," agrees Dr. Keels. "If you are going to buy soda, buy it in a can and drink it in one sitting. Don't buy the screw tops that allow you to open and close it. That encourages you to sip it all day." If you do allow soda as a rare treat, make sure to have your child brush his teeth, chew sugar free-gum or drink water immediately afterwards to minimize enamel damage.