4 Common Drinks That are Worse for Your Teeth Than Soda
- Diet Soda.
- Energy drinks.
- Tea.
- Citric Juices.
What is soda really doing to your teeth?
- Limiting staining foods and beverages like coffee, tea and wine.
- Quit smoking.
- Brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day.
- Scheduling regular dental cleanings to help remove more plaque and surface stains.
Does soda really damage your teeth?
When you drink soda, the sugars it contains interact with bacteria in your mouth to form acid. This acid attacks your teeth. Both regular and sugar-free sodas also contain their own acids, and these attack the teeth too. With each swig of soda, you’re starting a damaging reaction that lasts for about 20 minutes.
Which drinks are the worst for your teeth?
Top 6 Drinks that Are Worst for Your Teeth
- Soda. Soft drinks contain carbonation, acids and large amounts of sugar, which can all damage teeth. ...
- Coffee. Coffee can dry out the mouth, stain the teeth and erode enamel. ...
- Wine. Like other alcoholic beverages, wine can dehydrate the mouth. ...
- Sports Drinks. ...
- Carbonated Water. ...
- Fruit Juices. ...
Which sodas are worse for your teeth?
Which soda is worse for your teeth?
- Wine. When it comes to wine, red is better for dental health, but no variety is necessarily good for your teeth.
- Beer.
- Vodka.
- Water.
- Sparkling water.
- Coffee.
- Milk.
- Soda.
What soda rots your teeth the most?
Tip #4: Kick the Cola Cola is the worst for your teeth. It's one of the most acidic types of soda, and it contains dark artificial colors. To reduce the damage to your teeth, switch from colas to less acidic sodas, especially root beer, which is much less acidic.
Is Coke or Mountain Dew worse for your teeth?
Coca-Cola is therefore six times more acidic than Mountain Dew. Two molars were soaked in each soda for duration of 2 weeks and 5 days and observed for any changes. The tooth soaked in Mountain Dew lost 14 percent of its mass while the Coca-Cola tooth lost 7 percent of its mass.
How can I drink soda without ruining my teeth?
How to prevent damageDrink in moderation. Don't have more than one soft drink each day. ... Drink quickly. ... Use a straw. ... Rinse your mouth with water afterward. ... Wait before you brush. ... Avoid soft drinks before bedtime. ... Get regular dental cleanings.
Does Dr. Pepper rot your teeth?
It's generally considered that darker-colored soda is slightly worse than light-colored or clear soda. However, both contain astronomically high levels of acid. All soda is destructive to your teeth.
Does all soda rot your teeth?
Carbonation also adds to the acidity of soft drinks. These acids can erode and reduce the hardness of the enamel that protects your teeth and lead to tooth decay. So even diet sodas and other sugar-free carbonated beverages can lead to cavities.
What is the most acidic soda?
AGD spokesman Kenton Ross said that RC Cola was found to be the most acidic soft drink studied, with a pH of 2.387 (the pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 for most liquids, with 0 being the most acidic and 14 being the least acidic—or most alkaline).
Is Coke Zero better for teeth?
Similarly to regular soda, drinking diet sodas like Coke Zero is associated with an increased risk of tooth erosion. One of the main ingredients in Coke Zero is phosphoric acid. One study on human teeth noted that phosphoric acid causes mild enamel and tooth erosion ( 13 ).
What drinks are best for your teeth?
The mealtime beverage also helps to wash away food particles on teeth. The best beverage choices include water (especially fluoridated water) and unsweetened tea. Limit your consumption of sugar-containing drinks, including soft drinks, lemonade, and coffee or tea with added sugar.
Can enamel regrow?
Tooth enamel is the hardest tissue in the body. Problem is, it's not living tissue, so it can't be naturally regenerated. Unfortunately, you can't regrow it artificially, either -- not even with those special toothpastes.
Should you brush your teeth after Coke?
You should wait at least 30 minutes after drinking soda before brushing your teeth, said researchers at the German Association for Tooth Protection meeting on June 6.
Does drinking water cancel out soda?
Soda doesn't replace any of the water you lose—in fact, because it increases your body's production of urine, it makes dehydration worse. One 12 ounce soda contains 45 milligrams of caffeine—that's double the amount of caffeine in a standard cup of coffee.
Is Diet Coke better for teeth?
Diet sodas and other sugar-free drinks are usually highly acidic, which weakens the enamel on your teeth and makes them more susceptible to cavities and dental erosion. The level of phosphoric acid, citric acid, and/or tartaric acid is usually high in sugar-free drinks so it's best to avoid them.
Does Mountain Dew ruin your teeth?
Unfortunately, dentists see varying degrees of it (also called “soda mouth”) all too often. Health experts familiar with the Appalachian region of the Eastern U.S. refer to the area's drink of choice, Mountain Dew, as a major reason for such high rates of advanced tooth decay and other dental problems.
What has more sugar Coke or Mt Dew?
A 12 oz can of Coca-Cola contains 39 grams of sugar. A 20 oz bottle of Mountain Dew contains 77 grams of sugar.
What is Coke's version of Mountain Dew?
Surge (drink)Surge (sometimes styled as SURGE) is a citrus-flavored soft drink first produced in the 1990s by The Coca-Cola Company to compete with Pepsi's Mountain Dew.
What happens when you drink Mountain Dew everyday?
Mountain Dew has Citric Acid which is a strong acid that promotes tooth decay. Citric Acid softens the enamel of our teeth and leaves teeth looking “yellowish.” As enamel weakens, bacteria that forms on the teeth can reach the inner layers more easily, causing cavities.
How to protect your teeth from acidic drinks?
You can also use a straw to limit a drink's contact with your teeth, brush your teeth before drinking anything dark-colored (so there's less plaque for the staining-agents to stick to), and drink water following any other beverage to rinse your mouth out.
What is the best drink to clean teeth?
5) Gin and soda water. 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. Opt for soda water instead of tonic, which contains sugar, and add a squeeze of lime.
What is the best drink to drink to help with enamel erosion?
1) Kombucha and vinegar-based drinks. These natural drinks are gaining popularity due to their potential health benefits. Kombucha, a bubbly, probiotic-packed drink, and drinks created with apple cider vinegar can be highly acidic, leading to enamel erosion and loss of minerals.
What causes teeth to grind?
Energy drinks can cause serious damage to your enamel due to high acidity levels. In addition, the hyperactive energy can cause teeth-grinding, leading to tooth breakage and loss.
Is root beer good for teeth?
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. However, still drink with caution — any soda is high in sugar and can stain your teeth and erode your enamel.
Can iced tea stain your teeth?
Iced tea can cause just as much staining as coffee, and if you're drinking it sweetened the traditional way, your teeth are in trouble. If you just can't help yourself, try making it with a sugar substitute and limiting the amount you drink in a day.
Is milk good for teeth?
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. You could even let some chocolate milk slide now and then (just be cautious of the amount of sugar).
How to stop soda from attacking your teeth?
Rinse your mouth with water afterward. Flushing your mouth with some water after drinking soda will help wash away any remaining sugars and acids, and stop them from attacking your teeth. Wait before you brush. Despite what you may think, brushing immediately after you have a soda isn’t a good idea.
How to stop a bad habit of drinking soda?
But many of us just can’t seem to kick the habit. There are things you can do to lessen the risk of damaging your teeth, however. Drink in moderation. Don’t have more than one soft drink each day. Just one will do damage enough. Drink quickly. The longer it takes to drink a soft drink, the more time it has to wreak havoc on your ...
How to keep sugars away from teeth?
(Just don’t use this as an excuse to drink twice as many soft drinks!) Use a straw. This will help keep the damaging acids and sugars away from your teeth. Rinse your mouth with water afterward.
What happens when you drink soft drinks?
Erosion. Erosion begins when the acids in soft drinks encounter the tooth enamel, which is the outermost protective layer on your teeth. Their effect is to reduce the surface hardness of the enamel. While sports drinks and fruit juices can also damage enamel, they stop there.
Which soda is the least acidic?
According to the Mississippi Department of Health, Pepsi and Coca-Cola are two of the most acidic soft drinks on the market, with Dr. Pepper and Gatorade not far behind. Sprite, Diet Coke, and Diet Dr. Pepper are some of the least acidic soft drinks (but they are still quite acidic).
Does soda hurt your teeth?
This acid attacks your teeth. Both regular and sugar-free sodas also contain their own acids, and these attack the teeth too. With each swig of soda, you’re starting a damaging reaction that lasts for about 20 minutes. If you sip all day, your teeth are under constant attack.
Can soft drinks cause cavities?
Cavities. Soft drinks, on the other hand, can also affect the next layer, dentin, and even composite fillings. This damage to your tooth enamel can invite cavities. Cavities, or caries, develop over time in people who drink soft drinks regularly. Add in poor oral hygiene, and a lot of damage can occur to the teeth.
Why Is Soda Bad For Your Teeth?
Soft drinks have been linked to tooth decay for people of all ages. The acids and acidic sugar ingredients in soft drinks can soften tooth enamel, contributing to cavities. In extreme cases, if the enamel damage does not get treated, grinding of the teeth or other conditions can lead to tooth loss.
How To Stop Drinking Soft Drinks
If you want to take a step toward a healthier lifestyle, quitting soda drinking doesn't have to be painful! You can take several small steps to beat the habit, leading to a healthier smile and less sugar in your diet.
Does Your Drinking Method Matter?
How you consume a beverage might influence how sugars and acids interact with your teeth. Taking long sips and holding a drink in the mouth is most likely to lead to the greatest drop in pH. A lower pH indicates a more acidic environment, which increases your risk for erosion. Gulping the beverage, on the other hand, leads to a smaller drop in pH.
How to keep your teeth from getting acidic?
Limit the amount you drink (maybe stick to one small soda a day instead of one per meal). Use a straw so that your teeth aren’t immersed in the liquid, and take sips of water between drinks to reduce the acidity in your mouth.
How to get rid of sweet tooth?
1. Stick to natural Sugars. Instead of satisfying your sweet tooth with processed sugary beverages and treats, stick to natural and healthy beverages and foods. You can easily juice your own fruit and veggies to create a sweet and satisfying drink.
What causes dental erosion?
Dental erosion occurs when the enamel (the hard, protective coating on your teeth) is eaten away by an acid attack. Our mouths are full of hundreds of different types of bacteria. Both helpful and harmful bacteria live on the teeth, gums, and tongue. Tooth decay has 2 main culprits: Sugar and acid.
How to reduce exposure to mouth?
After all, natural juices are packed with vitamins and antioxidants that your body needs. Instead of sipping juice throughout the day, reduce its exposure to your mouth by drinking it in one sitting. You can also look for juices fortified with calcium to help strengthen the enamel on your teeth.
Why is cheese good for teeth?
Cheese helps defend your teeth against decay because it stimulates saliva production. It’s best consumed after a sugary snack to prevent an increase in acidity. Plus, its high calcium content influences the recalcifying of teeth.
What happens when you eat acid?
Acid. When you eat or drink something acidic, the enamel in your teeth is temporarily softened. Frequent exposure to acid eats away at the protective layer on your teeth. Every time your teeth are exposed to anything acidic or sugary, the enamel loses some of its mineral content.
Which drinks erode enamel?
2. Energy drinks. A 2008 study published in the journal Nutrition Research showed that energy drinks and sports drinks, like Red Bull and Gatorade, eroded enamel more than soda or fruit drinks.
