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Diet Soda Habit as Bad for Teeth as Meth Addiction, Study Claims

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enhanced_deficit
, 08-17-2013 at 03:30 PM (8318 Views)
Quote Originally Posted by enhanced_deficit View Post
There goes diet coke off my "lesser evil" drinks list.
Before I used to drink lot of OJ with amlost every meal thinking it was healthier choice, my dentist recently said that it was causing damage to teeth enamel, brsushing teeth after drinking OJ is also bad apparently and should just rinse mouth with water.

Is there any feel good beverage left to drink other than plain boring water?

Diet Soda Habit as Bad for Teeth as Meth Addiction, Study Claims


. Coca-Cola is winning the fight for America's soda drinkers. Diet Coke bubbled up into the second spot in the U.S. soft drink market, ending Pepsi's decades-long run as the perennial runner-up to regular Coca-Cola. Regular Coke remains the undisputed champion at 1.6 billion cases. (AP Photo)

Story Highlights

  • Heavy consumption of diet soda can damage teeth as badly as methamphetamine or crack cocaine.
  • All are highly acidic and can cause similar dental problems.
  • Without good dental hygiene, constant exposure can cause erosion and significant oral damage.

Thursday, May 23, 2013, 2:00 PM

THURSDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) -- Heavy consumption of diet soda can damage teeth as badly as methamphetamine or crack cocaine, a new study contends.
"You look at it side-to-side with 'meth mouth' or 'coke mouth,' it is startling to see the intensity and extent of damage more or less the same," said Dr. Mohamed Bassiouny, a professor of restorative dentistry at the Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia.
Methamphetamine, crack cocaine and soda -- sweetened or not -- are all highly acidic and can cause similar dental problems, Bassiouny said in a study published recently in the journal General Dentistry.
The acid in soda is in the form of citric acid and phosphoric acid, Bassiouny said. Without good dental hygiene, constant exposure can cause erosion and significant oral damage, he said.




http://www.philly.com/philly/health/HealthDay676327_20130523_Diet_Soda_Habit_as_Bad_fo r_Teeth_as_Meth_Addiction__Study_Claims.html
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  1. enhanced_deficit's Avatar
    Related info:

    Soda’s Effect on our Teeth

    Soda can do some remarkable damage to your teeth. Some research suggests it may be just as corrosive to teeth as drinking battery fluid, and this can occur as soon as the first three minutes of consumption. This is caused by a combination of mostly three factors, one is the sugar (which is really a minor factor compared to the others) then comes the phosphoric acid present in some sodas and finally the staining effect that they can have on your teeth.

    The sugar problem is caused by acid creating bacteria on the surface of your teeth that feed on sugar and use it to create acid, which destroys your teeth. The sugar in sodas is easily used by the teeth as opposed to the sugars in say, whole grain bread which does not break down in the mouth.

    The phosphoric acid is worth avoiding in general. This is the same substance that dentists use to scour enamel so you know it's effective in removing it. Of course it's not present in the same concentrations as in a dental application but it could be worth avoiding all the same. Erosion is far more harmful than decay, and can cause hypersentivity.

    Finally comes the cavities and the staining of the teeth. Sodas add layers of sugars to your teeth that create plaque and offer food for hordes of bacteria that happen to be in your mouth. Over time this layer can produce a yellowed effect on your teeth that is unsightly and will need to be treated by a dentist.

    So what can you do to prevent this? The most obvious answer is to reduce or altogether stop consuming sodas. Substitute with fresh fruit juices or just have milk or better yet, water. Citrus juice should be consumed in moderation, and if possible, in one sitting, as the highly acidic nature of these juices can cause harm teeth. Energy drinks and power drinks should also be avoided as they can have as much or even more sugar than sodas.

    If you do have soda, use a straw to reduce contact with your teeth. Also, rinse out your mouth and teeth with water, to wash out the sugars and stop them from wearing away the enamel in your teeth. Reduce your cavities and stop the erosion of enamel by using toothpaste and mouth rinse with fluoride.

    http://www.dentistry.net/dental-nutrition/soda-on-teeth


    Some interesting semi-scientific tips found here:

    Try to drink soda as quickly as possible to limit the time of contact of the acids with your teeth. Acid erosion occurs while dietary acids from foods and drinks are in direct contact with your teeth. Gulping soda quickly is the best way to limit the time of contact.
    [Why not just use a straw and gulp less, drink less]

    Do not brush immediately after drinking soda. The acids in the soda will soften your enamel slightly making it more easily abraded by your toothbrush. If this is done often enough, major damage can be done. It is best to wait a minimum of 30 minutes (if you have good saliva flow) or to use a re-balancing rinse before brushing.

    Avoid eating abrasive foods while you are drinking soda. This will compound the erosive effects of soda.

    10 Tricks to Keep Soda from Rotting Teeth | Slow Acid Erosion from Sodas
  2. Suzu's Avatar
    The last soda drink I consumed was the day before I watched my dad pour Coca-Cola on his car's battery terminals to clean off the corrosion. I've never missed pop in all this time (roughly 53 years). Never got another cavity after that, either.