dentist<\/a> for your regular checkup. After a few minutes into your examination, your dentist asks you \u201cHave you been eating more sugar lately?\u201d At this point you\u2019re confused. By drinking diet soda, you\u2019re drinking less sugar by definition. How could you still have cavities?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Myth #1: Diet Soda is Less Acidic<\/h2>\n
If it wasn\u2019t for sweeteners and acids to make the drink taste good, diet sodas would have never become popular. Two of the most popular artificial sweeteners cola companies use to entice consumers includes phosphoric acid and citric acid. While neither of these cause oral bacteria to produce acid in the same way that sugar does, it doesn\u2019t mean they aren\u2019t still eroding your tooth enamel.<\/p>\n
In fact, after scientists at the University of Melbourne in Australia tested 23 different types of sports drinks and sodas, they found that drinks containing the acidic additives still caused significant damage to tooth enamel, even though they didn\u2019t contain sugar.<\/p>\n
Myth #2: Sugar-Free Soda is Safe Because It\u2019s \u201cDiet\u201d<\/h2>\n
You might think that because diet soda has zero sugar in it that it will be a safe alternative to drink every day. However, just because the word \u201cdiet\u201d is in the name doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s safe to consume on a regular basis. By using that word on the label, cola companies are convincing Americans that they can consume soda more often, when it simply isn\u2019t the case.<\/p>\n
Regardless, by putting this concept of \u201csugar-free\u201d in the patient\u2019s mind, there\u2019s nothing stopping them from having it with multiple meals a day, guilt-free. Even though there are multiple ingredients that cause dental erosion, people have convinced themselves that it\u2019s safer to drink.<\/p>\n
Myth #3: Diet Soda is Fine for Hydration<\/h2>\n
One of the biggest problems of drinking soda regularly is that you won\u2019t be getting enough water in your diet as a result. Even diet soda contains harmful ingredients that can lead to dental decay over extended consumption. Water always works better at removing food debris from your mouth without eroding your tooth enamel in the process.<\/p>\n
However, your dentist understands that you may have difficulty quitting your diet soda habit at first. That\u2019s why it\u2019s better to drink plain sparkling water with your meals instead. It contains no added ingredients and provides the carbonated essence that you\u2019re likely craving. However, don\u2019t let it replace water entirely.<\/p>\n
Since carbonated water is simply water that\u2019s been treated with carbon dioxide, it contains carbonic acid, making it more acidic than plain water. The key is to maintain a balance: drink plain water regularly throughout the day but replace your diet soda with sparkling water to make the transition easier.<\/p>\n
Have more questions on improving your oral health via your diet? Schedule an appointment with your dentist to learn about foods that promote oral health!<\/p>\n
About the Author<\/h2>\n
Dr. Benjamin Hornstein<\/a> has experience in all areas of dentistry, including pediatric, cosmetic, preventive, and periodontal, so you can expect the highest level of care regardless of the treatment you\u2019re seeking. To help others expand their skills, he regularly shares his techniques with other dentists around the world, through dental courses. To learn more about his preventive techniques and practice, contact him at (216) 595-1710 or visit his website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Diet soda has always branded itself as a healthier alternative to the regular stuff. It usually contains less sugar and makes you feel guilt-free for consuming. Pretty soon, you find yourself drinking it every day, typically with your lunch. You\u2019ve become so comfortable with it that you can\u2019t see why you\u2019d ever need to change. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-505","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/a>Diet soda has always branded itself as a healthier alternative to the regular stuff. It usually contains less sugar and makes you feel guilt-free for consuming. Pretty soon, you find yourself drinking it every day, typically with your lunch. You\u2019ve become so comfortable with it that you can\u2019t see why you\u2019d ever need to change.<\/p>\n