However, according to a report in the May/June 2005 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal, drinking soft drinks and other beverages through a properly positioned straw can help to minimize the risk of cavities.

The report tracked patient drinking habits and found that different factors - such as the frequency of sipping and the amount of time the beverage remains in the mouth - affect the type, location and severity of tooth decay.

For example, decay will be concentrated in the back molars of a person who drinks directly from a can and allows the liquid to pool in the mouth. Or, decay will be found on the teeth in the front of the mouth in a person who drinks through a straw positioned at the front of the mouth, right behind the lips.

"Your best option is to sip soft drinks and other beverages through a straw positioned towards the back of the mouth," advises Mohamed A. Bassiouny, DMD, MSc, PhD, and lead reporter. "Doing so will limit the amount of time the beverage is in contact with the teeth."

However, even when drinking through a straw, the teeth located in the back of the mouth are still bathed with sugary and acidic liquids. "Try rinsing your mouth with water after drinking and use toothpaste that contains fluoride," advises AGD spokesperson Paula Jones, DDS, FAGD. "Your teeth aren't thirsty, your throat is."

Soft drinks contain one or more acids, commonly phosphoric and citric acids. Non-colas and canned iced teas also contain flavor additives, such as malic, tartaric and other organic acids, which are more aggressive at eroding teeth. These acids erode dental enamel, the
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Contact: Jennifer Starkey
jennifers@agd.org
312-440-4341
Academy of General Dentistry
15-Jun-2005