What Happens When You Drink Soda

No one picks up a soda seeking a sugar-rush, an energy crash and a side of depression, but that’s exactly what your body goes through with each can.

But what about diet sodas? Aren’t they harmless? Think again. Here’s a 60 minute time line of what happens in your body after you drink a can of regular or diet soda...

• Within 10 minutes – 100% of your recommended daily intake of sugar enters your system.
• 20 minutes – Insulin goes into overdrive as your blood sugar spikes. The liver transforms all sugar that it can into fat.
• 40-45 minutes – Complete caffeine absorption: dilated pupils, risen blood pressure, and full alertness as adenosine receptors in the brain are blocked to prevent drowsiness. Pleasure centers in the brain are stimulated by the dopamine your body is now producing. (Physically the same way heroine works).
• 60 minutes – CRASH! As your body tries to resume normal function, irritability and sluggishness sets in. Also, time for a potty break! You will soon be flushing out all of the water, bonded calcium, magnesium, zinc, and electrolytes (any of the good) which came with your soda, plus more of your body's mineral reserves along with it. One more thing to look forward to: a caffeine crash in just a few hours.

This is what happens to your body every time you drink a can of soda. But what if you had a habit of drinking a can of soda every day? It does a lot more than just give you a daily sugar high. It affects more than just your pleasure-sensors. Over time, here's what you can expect:

• Super-sized waistline- Diet or regular, both types of soda have been linked to obesity. Soda increases your appetite, causing cravings which lead to overeating.
• Dentist bills – Expect an increase in cavities and tooth decay. The combination of sugar and acid attack tooth enamel.
• Heart Disease – The American Heart Association has published a study stating that women who drink soda daily have a 40% higher risk of heart attacks or death from heart disease than those who rarely drink soda.
• Bone Weakening – Displaces calcium which lowers bone density and increases the risk of fractures and osteoporosis.
• Diabetes – Excessive sugar and calories lead to weight gain and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. A Nurse’s Health Study found that women drinking one or more servings daily of sugary drinks or soft drinks were twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

One 20 oz bottle of soda contains roughly the same calories and double the sugar of a candy bar milkshake, and the same amount of sugar and calories as 15 cups of buttered popcorn! Why drink calories and sugar? Stick to water and herbal teas, and save your calories for what counts. If you must have a sweet pick-me-up, enjoy a dessert made of whole foods instead.

Tooth Sensitivity

What is tooth sensitivity?

Many patients come into our office during their regular dental hygiene visit with the complaint of tooth sensitivity.  It is often caused by eating or drinking something hot, cold, sweet or acidic. Under normal conditions, the underlying dentin of the tooth (the layer that immediately surrounds the nerve) is covered by the enamel in the tooth crown, and the gums that surround the tooth. Over time, the enamel covering can get thinner, thus providing less protection. The gums can also recede over time, exposing the underlying root surface dentin.

The dentin contains a large numbers of pores or tubes that run from the outside of the tooth to the nerve in the center. When the dentin is exposed, these tubes can be stimulated by changes in temperature or certain foods.

 

What causes it?

 

Exposure of the dentin can occur due to a number of different factors such as:

• Gum recession due to age
• Acidic beverages (such as soda) that cause enamel erosion and dentin exposure
• Tooth grinding – this may actually cause most or all of the teeth to feel sensitive
• Brushing with a very abrasive toothpaste, brushing incorrectly and/or brushing more than three times a day could result in a loss of enamel
• Gum disease, which can result in gum recession
• A chipped or fractured tooth exposing the dentin

In addition, some dental treatments can cause sensitivity. Treatments such as teeth whitening, professional dental cleanings, having braces put on or getting a filling placed have been known to cause sensitivity for a short period during or after the procedure.

What can you do about it?

The first step in doing something about dental sensitivity is to find out what the cause is – your dentist can help you with this. If the sensitivity is due to exposed dentin, there are a number of steps you can take, as can your dental professional, to help reduce the sensitivity. These can include:

• Using a very soft bristle tooth brush
• Brushing correctly to help prevent abrasion of the enamel and recession of the gums
• Using a toothpaste specially formulated to help reduce sensitivity
• The dentist can:
  • Apply a fluoride varnish on the sensitive areas to help strengthen the tooth
  • Prescribe a high fluoride tooth paste to use every day
  • Place a dental restoration to build up the areas that have lost enamel

In the end, whether you need an in-office procedure or over-the-counter products, the most important step is to visit your dentist so that he or she can determine the cause of the tooth sensitivity and help you find a solution that will work.