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Wrong! As it turns out, diet soda, even without sugar, poses only marginally less of a threat than it’s sugar-laden counterpart. To put it another way, both diet and regular soda have levels of acidity that are almost as high as stomach acid, which is extremely acidic. Dr. Grubb warns about the toll this acidity takes on your teeth and why it makes diet drinks just about as bad as their regular variations when it comes to your smile.
The Advantage of Diet Soda
There are notable advantages to creating diet versions of soda. As the name implies, diet sodas have zero calories which makes them a viable option for those who are trying to lose weight. Plus, the lack of sugar in diet soda makes it so diabetics and others who must control their blood sugar are able to enjoy soda as well. These advantages of diet soda are all valid, but it’s important to note that the benefits do not extend to your teeth.
Acidity – Just as Harmful to Your Teeth as Sugar
Many foods contain some amount of acid, but certain foods and drinks contain a large amount that jeopardizes the health of your smile. Regardless of sugar content, carbonated sodas are loaded with acid that can corrode your enamel through a process called dental erosion.
Dental Erosion – The Impact on Your Teeth
One distinguishing fact about dental erosion is that it’s caused specifically by acids rather than the bacteria of your mouth. It’s also worth noting that soda, including diet soda, is the leading cause of dental erosion. Since the enamel on our teeth doesn’t grow back, when it’s lost to dental erosion it can lead to significant dental damage in your mouth. One thing that will reduce the risk of dental erosion is calcium, a mineral found in milk and other dairy products.
The University of Michigan Study on Diet Soda and Acid
Doctors Matthew Rodgers and Anthony von Fraunhofer were researchers at the University of Michigan who sought to assess whether diet soda was safe for the teeth. In their landmark experiment, they gave regular and diet soda to participants and took precise measurements of the enamel that dissolved. The results were remarkably similar, showing that after 14 days, regular soda had dissolved 3.0 mg/cm² of enamel while diet soda had dissolved 2.8 mg/cm².
Call Us for Dental Care in Havre de Grace, MD
Whether you’ve endured dental erosion from years of consuming diet soda or are simply ready for your biannual exam, we have the services that can give you the smile you deserve at
Family Implant & Reconstructive Dentistry. From cosmetic treatments that can vastly improve your smile to restorations that can effectively replace your teeth, we have procedures that can accommodate your entire family. Contact us today for dental care in Havre de Grace, MD.