Fizzy Drinks Are Major
Cause of Teen Tooth Erosion

Fizzy drinks are the major cause of tooth erosion in British teenagers but many parents are not aware of the problem, researchers said.

The sodas and pop drunk by up to 92 percent of UK 14-year-olds wear away the enamel protective coating on teeth. Dental erosion weakens teeth and can cause thinning or chipping of the tooth edges.

"This research identifies fizzy drink as by far the biggest factor in causing dental erosion among teenagers," said Dr Peter Rock, of Birmingham University.

"Drinking fizzy drinks only once a day was found to significantly increase a child's chances of suffering dental erosion," he added.

Drinking four or more glasses of fizzy drinks a day raises a 12-year-old's chances of suffering from tooth erosion by 252 percent. Heavy consumption in 14-year-olds increased the risk to 513 percent, according to research published in The British Dental Journal.

Unlike tooth decay, which results from high levels of sugar, erosion is caused by acidic substances in the drinks. Even diet versions are harmful.

Drinking milk and water, instead, reduces the risk.

"Erosion is a growing problem among British teenagers, yet many parents don't understand the difference between decay and erosion," said Professor Liz Kay of the British Dental Association.

"Parents need to understand...it is the acidity of certain products that cause erosion," she added in a statement.