Here are the facts:

– Men found to be at twice the risk for dental erosion than women

– Tooth wear becomes more severe with age

– Many fizzy drinks and fruit juices contain “at least” six teaspoons of sugar

It’s official folks, our favourite soft and fizzy drinks like orange juice and Coca Cola are the number one offender when it comes to dental erosion.

Don’t believe believe us eh? Well, a new study released by the Journal of Public Health Dentistry has revealed the most significant factor in the severity of dental erosion is down to our fizzy and juice filled fridge friends.

What the heck is dental erosion?

According to health professionals, dental erosion is the loss of tooth enamel caused by an acid attack.

Enamel is the hard, protective coating of the tooth, which protects the sensitive dentine underneath. When the enamel is worn away, the dentine underneath is exposed, which may lead to pain and sensitivity.

A useful fact to remember!

We all know that the PH scale measures the acidity of a given liquid. Anything with a pH value lower than 5.5 can damage the teeth. Diet and regular sodas, carbonated drinks, flavoured fizzy waters, sports drinks, fruit and fruit juices are all known to be harmful to teeth if they are consumed too often! So don’t over do it!

Tell me about that study and why I “should” be worried

It may come as a shock to some to learn that a “substantial proportion” of adults have dental erosion, that’s according to the study we talked about a little earlier.

It finds that a substantial proportion of adults show some evidence of dental erosion, with the most severe cases being among people who drink sugary soft drinks and fruit juices.

It examined almost 4,000 participants and discovered that 79% had evidence of dental erosion, 64% had mild tooth wear, 10% had moderate tooth wear and 5% displayed signs of severe tooth wear.

And guess what? The participants in the study with moderate and severe tooth wear consumed more soft drinks and fruit juices each day than the other groups.

And on the flip side of the coin, those with lower levels of tooth wear cited milk as their drink of choice as opposed to soda or fruit juice.

Reflecting on the results, our very own Dr Ewan Bramley, said: “Fruit juice may be nutritious and fizzy drinks like Coke and Sprite may seem refreshing, but they contain high amounts of sugar and acid, which can lead to really bad dental erosion.

“Remember, milk and water are great choices for your teeth and your general health. So if you need to cut down on the fizzy drinks, replace them with things that will do your oral health a favour.

“Regular advice and check-ups at your dentist will also ensure you’re on top of dental erosion and your teeth will remain bright and healthy.”