A few weeks ago I went to my first post-pregnancy dentist appointment.
I was nervous; I’d heard pregnancy can wreak havoc on your teeth. I was not, however prepared to hear that I had THREE cavities. (It was actually four, but four was such an embarrassing number my dentist agreed we’d say three since one of them was in the middle of two teeth.)
Lots of friends have told me cavity horror stories after pregnancy (Dr. Beabout, please confirm the accuracy of that study). What ISN’T destroyed by pregnancy, that’s what I want to know. However, my dentist seems to think soda is more to blame for my cavities.
I love Diet Coke. Love. I’ve been its number one fan since I went to college and could get it free at the dining halls. I’ve given it up a few times through the years, usually when traveling to other countries or going on long camping trips when I didn’t think I’d be able to access a Coke machine. But EVERY TIME I go back.
Coincidentally, I got my first cavity when I was 21 — just a few years after I started the soda habit.
When my dentist told me the bad news, something just clicked. I haven’t had a soda since the appointment.
Even though my first thought in the morning is usually, “man I wanna shotgun a Diet Coke right now,” I haven’t. I hope my enamel is thankful.
My dentist told me the fillings would take about an hour.
That’s right. An hour. An hour lying in a chair with no crying, spit-up, or diapers.
After an hour of drilling and chiseling and hammering my teeth, my dentist looked at me and said, “Alright, we’re done!”
I was enjoying the break so much I almost said, “What do you think about just pulling all my teeth and fitting me for dentures? How long would that take?”
soda, when consumed through a straw, reeks less havoc on your teeth enamel.
Glad to hear you’re giving up the diet soda habit. You will not be sorry. Your body and your enamel will be thankful. I know David Andrew loves raspberries even with numb lips.
Wow, I made the blog. I haven’t had a chance to read the full article you linked, but pregnancy does change your hormones, which changes all kinds of things with your gums, saliva, etc. I’m glad you’ve given up your soda habit…I know it wasn’t easy.
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Nice post!