Careful how you sip

The way you sip your soda could have a big effect on your dental health. A researcher has found that savoring the soft drink may worsen tooth decay, while a smartly placed straw could cut cavity risk.

“The best position is behind the teeth, rather than in front,” says Mohamed A. Bassiouny, lead author of a new study examining how soda consumption affects the pattern of tooth decay. A straw positioned toward the back of the mouth limits the liquid’s contact with teeth.

Bassiouny, a restorative dentist at Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia, found that people who drink soda directly from the can and let the liquid pool in their mouth are likelier to have cavities in their back teeth. People who drink soda through a straw ending right behind their lips -- in front of their teeth -- are more likely to have cavities in the front of the mouth. The findings are based on observations from Bassiouny’s clinical practice over the last two decades.

He says the best protection is to cut back on soda consumption. Sodas -- both regular and sugar-free -- and some fruit juices contain acids that erode the dental enamel protecting teeth from decay. “If you do drink, use a straw,” he says. He also recommends spacing sips at least a minute apart, rinsing the mouth out with water after drinking and skipping soft drinks right before bed.

The research was reported in the May/June issue of General Dentistry.