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Carbonated drinks include soft drinks, spring water, beer and some sparkling wines. Spring water, beer and sparkling wines are carbonated naturally either due to absorbing carbon dioxide from the ground, like spring water, for example, or through the fermentation process in wine making. Soft drinks, however, are artificially carbonated and according to the dentists at Seapoint Clinic, these fizzy drinks are one of the biggest contributing factors to tooth erosion in young children.

The acid in fizzy drinks strips the surface enamel of teeth, causing pain, disfigurement and in extreme cases eroding teeth down to mere stumps, leading to tooth loss. This acid is present in both regular and diet products.

Dr. Murphy of Seapoint Clinic says, "Fizzy or carbonated drinks are by far the biggest factor in causing dental erosion among teenagers and young people today.

"Some young children have already got no healthy enamel left on their molars. This is causing premature problems for the rest of their lives including sensitivity, pain and lack of resistance against natural wear and tear."

Dr Murphy explains that it isn't how much sugar is eaten, it’s how long the sugar is in contact with the teeth. There are naturally occurring bacteria in everybody's mouths. The bacteria feed on sugar, forming acids that can harm teeth.

In addition to these acids formed by bacteria in the mouth when they feed on sugar, most carbonated beverages contain phosphoric acid, citric acid or carbonic acid. All of these can erode tooth enamel. The calcium in saliva works to remineralize teeth after exposure to small amounts of this eroding acid, but with the increased consumption of fizzy drinks, it's simply not enough. While it does help to drink soft drinks through a straw to keep acid away from tooth enamel, an even better alternative is to reduce or eliminate their consumption and drink water or milk instead.

We’ll drink to that!