If you’re like most Americans, you’ve probably had Coke or Pepsi. After all, both drinks are ubiquitous. Almost every party includes soda pop, right? Many of us have been told that every diet version of a product is “better for our health” than the “regular” version. On paper, diet soda seems to have a lot of advantages. The zero-calorie and sugar-free drink will help you cut down on consumption and provide you with a lot of the same features as a regular soda. However, that might not be true regarding our dental and gum health. While Diet Coke is marketed as a better alternative to regular soda, it’s not entirely tooth-friendly. Let’s delve into the effects of Diet Coke and other sugar-free sodas on your teeth, exploring the potential for staining and other dental concerns.
The Acidity Factor: How Diet Coke Erodes Enamel
Your teeth are highly sensitive to consumption of soda, and it’s been long known that soda affects your teeth negatively. One of the key issues with any form of soda is the acids present. The carbonation of soda features acids that can break down the enamel on your teeth. Your teeth can become eroded over time as acids in diet sodas, food, and other drinks, wear away at the enamel on your teeth. The enamel is the glossy, protective layer of the tooth. Without this “shield” in place, teeth are more likely to develop cavities, sensitivities, crack, or become discolored. Even though the elimination of sugar is positive, certain dental risks still come with these drinks.
Diet Coke has a low pH level, meaning it’s highly acidic. A study published in 2022 found that the acidic nature of diet soda could mean the deterioration of teeth. The carbonation and added acids (like phosphoric and citric acid) can gradually wear down your enamel. The good news? Diet sodas, including Diet Coke, contain phosphoric and citric acid, which can erode tooth enamel over time. Phosphoric acid is added to soda for flavoring. Although this ingredient is largely responsible for giving soda its flavor, phosphoric acid weakens your tooth enamel -the protective layer on the surface of your tooth. When the enamel is eroded by phosphoric acid, your teeth become weaker and more susceptible to decay. This is why so many people are raised being told soda causes cavities. Coca-Cola is almost as acidic as battery acid.
When enamel wears away, your teeth become more vulnerable to cavities and decay. If you go a long time without brushing after consuming diet soda, then the soda will remain on the teeth and break away at the enamel. Once worn away, enamel doesn’t just grow back. You may need fillings or crowns to help protect the tooth again.
Does Diet Coke Stain Teeth?
If you regularly drink dark-colored sodas (such as cola), you might notice that your teeth look stained or discolored- the dark-colored sodas contain chromogens which stain your enamel. Tooth-staining from soda is mainly caused by two substances: phosphoric acid and chromogens. Chromogens give soda its color, but they also stain your teeth.
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Many of the traditional dark-colored sodas use the same caramel coloring whether you drink regular soda or diet. The caramel coloring gives the soda its classic look but could present staining issues for your teeth. Even if you regularly drink diet sodas, be extra weary of dark-colored beverages. When regularly consumed over time, the dark coloring can begin to yellow teeth. Besides causing stains, drinking soda also leads to tooth erosion.
Over time, you may notice a general yellowing of your teeth. The white vibrant luster of the teeth could fade over time and result in stains from the soda dyes. One of the main ways stains may accelerate is through the acids present in soda. When the acids weaken the enamel, the dyes reach under layers of the teeth and can result in more permanent stains.
Other Potential Dental Issues from Diet Soda
Dry Mouth
One of the main reasons a person may drink diet soda is for the caffeine. Unfortunately, whether you drink diet soda or regular soda, the caffeine still impacts the mouth in the same way. Caffeine will often cause dry mouth. Did you know that sodas containing caffeine can help make you dehydrated? This can lead to cavity-causing dry mouth. Extended periods of dry mouth can cause a lot of dental issues. Without a proper saliva flow, the bacteria in your mouth remains on your teeth and gums. An increase in bacteria could lead to inflamed gums and the eventual formation of gum disease like gingivitis. Without proper treatment, infections could grow and lead to serious problems for your teeth.
Unhealthy Food Choices
Knowing that you’re drinking something with zero calories could have a big impact on your psychological state of mind. When you have drinks with no calories, you may feel like you could make up those calories with other food options. The “diet” effect could lead to more unhealthy food choices. Instead of just focusing on the diet aspect of a drink, try to make better healthy food choices all around.
You could consume more sugars or carbohydrates, which could break down enamel and eventually form cavities. Some studies have shown that the effects of diet soda are also caused by artificial sweeteners. The sweeteners can make the body feel more hungry and result in more food cravings.
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Tooth decay
The acids and sugar content in sodas result in tooth decay. Soda affects your teeth by containing high sugar content that helps the oral bacteria to generate more acids which pose serious risks in terms of developing cavities and more serious diseases. One thing you absolutely want to avoid is developing tooth decay and cavities with braces. Patients who consume a lot of soda may have repeated cavities, and their weakened enamel poses a greater risk of future tooth decay. Treat cavities. Inlays, onlays, and fillings are all options for treating cavities. Patients with tooth decay may also have gum disease.
How to Minimize the Harmful Effects of Diet Coke
Like anything else, consuming diet drinks should be done in moderation. If you want to enjoy the occasional pop, there’s nothing wrong with that. But to limit damage, use a straw, and rinse your mouth with water afterward. Drinking one soda every now and then won’t ruin your teeth. The simplest way to minimize Diet Coke’s impact on your teeth?
Here are some tips you can use to keep your teeth healthy when drinking soda.
Use a Straw: Using a straw when drinking acidic drinks helps to reduce contact with your teeth. For best results, position the straw toward the back of your mouth instead of letting the liquid wash over your teeth.
Reduce Consumption: If you are going to drink sodas, a good practice is to set a limit to how much you allow yourself to have. Ensure water, not soda, is your primary drink. If you’re willing to drink less soda, that’s a good thing for your teeth.
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Rinse with Water: If you are going to drink soda, rinse your mouth with water after drinking or chewing some sugar-free gum with xylitol, which stimulates saliva. Drinking water right after consuming soda is another great tactic as it would quickly wash away the sugar content and acids that pose a threat to your teeth.
Brush Regularly: Routinely brushing your teeth, especially after drinking a soda, helps manage any plaque that might build up on your teeth. Similarly, brushing your teeth is an even more effective measure as it rubs off the harmful soda content from your teeth before it can damage your teeth. Brushing immediately after consuming an acidic drink can actually do more harm than good. Acid softens enamel, and brushing can erode it further.
Drink with Food: Drinking soda with some food also helps minimize the negative impacts.
Fluoride Treatment: Fluoride helps remineralize enamel and strengthen teeth. Flouride is a tooth-strengthening mineral that can help fortify your enamel.
Chew Sugar-Free Gum: Chewing gum stimulates saliva production, which naturally neutralizes acid and washes away harmful particles.
Consider Whitening Treatments: Before stains become more noticeable, you may want to consider a whitening treatment at your dentist’s office to keep your smile bright. If you are upset with discoloration of teeth, consult a dentist regarding the tooth whitening treatments and whitening trays and strips that can be used at home. Another effective tool is the use of whitening toothpaste that helps remove stains from the teeth. More importantly, remember not to consume soda when you are taking whitening measures.
Maintain Preventative Dental Care: Maintaining proper preventative dental care practices is an excellent way to avoid any tooth damage from missing enamel. The degradation of this layer won’t just make your dentin more exposed; it will also make your teeth more vulnerable to decay and cavities.
Alternative Beverages to Protect Your Teeth
The best way to maintain oral hygiene is to cease your soda consumption, especially the dark-colored soda. Why take any risks? The best way to protect your teeth is to avoid sugary, acidic drinks in general.
Here are some healthier options:
Water: Next to water, milk is the healthiest drink for your teeth. It protects tooth enamel, contains vitamins and calcium and can actually reduce tooth decay.
Coconut Water: If you get tired of drinking water (which is, of course, the healthiest option!) try coconut water, a super refreshing, antioxidant-packed option. It's also a great alternative to sports drinks, with electrolytes like potassium, calcium and magnesium.
Gin: Alcohol usually fall on the no-no list, but it you’re looking for a healthier option for your teeth, look to gin. It's the lowest acidity alcohol and doesn't contain any sugar.
Light Beer: If you're in the mood for a beer, just grab a light one.
Unflavored Sparkling Water: There's a lot of debate about whether or not carbonated water is bad for your teeth. The good news is that most unflavored sparkling water is totally fine, says the ADA.
Root Beer: Technically, soda probably doesn't belong on the "good" side of the list, but if you are going to drink it, root beer is the best option. It's less acidic than most sodas and therefore slightly less damaging to your teeth.
Natural Drinks: These natural drinks are gaining popularity due to their potential health benefits.
The Importance of Regular Dental Visits
When’s the last time you visited a dentist? Schedule Regular Dentist Appointments. Make sure that you visit your local dentist at least once in each six-month period. If you are already facing tooth stains or erosion, you should immediately book an appointment with an experienced local dentist. Doing so could reveal more severe oral problems that may have developed beyond your knowledge. A dentist in Cheshire, CT can monitor your enamel health and provide professional treatments if early signs of erosion appear. A dentist can evaluate the dryness of your mouth and will see any signs of swollen gums or teeth issues. If you feel like your mouth is dry from soda, then drink a lot of water to help refresh your mouth and wash away the harmful bacteria. Schedule your checkup at Northside Dental Clinic in Springfield, MO, or get in touch with our team at (417) 862-2468.