If you are one of the 95 percent of Americans who cannot live without having an icy, cold soda each day - choose root beer - it is the soft drink that does the least amount of damage to your teeth. According to a study from The University of Maryland recently published in General Dentistry, the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry, researchers have now determined that non-cola soft drinks, including ginger ale, Mountain Dew and Sprite, as well as canned iced tea can also weaken and erode tooth enamel due in large part to acidic flavor additives, including malic, tartaric, citric and phosphoric acids. Root beer has the least amount of additives, making it the best soft drink for your teeth. It turns out sugar and colas are not the only dental culprits.
According to Dr. Thomas Balshi prosthodontist and founder of Prothodontics Intermedica in Philadelphia, "This study on soft drinks is very significant for consumers. These drinks can cause irreversible damage to our dental health and it is important that we start paying attention to how harmful they actually are."
According to the study, by exposing healthy dental enamel to a variety of popular soft drinks including Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, Sprite, Canada Dry ginger ale and canned Arizona Iced Tea, researchers were able to assess that all of them weakened and permanently destroyed tooth enamel.
The study founded the following significant results in fourteen days:
- Diet sodas had the same negative effect as the sugared versions since the main culprit is the acidic additives.
- The most harmful were non-cola drinks, which caused two to five times the damage as darker cola drinks.
- Root beer, which contains the least amount of flavor additives, was found to be the "safest soft drink to safeguard dental enamel."
- Canned iced tea caused 30 times the damage to tooth enamel as brewed tea or coffee.
- Brewed black tea, root beer, coffee and water had a minimal effect.
Dr. Balshi points out, "Carbonated soft drinks account for more than 27 percent of our beverage consumption in the United States. They contain such a high level of acid that they can actually dissolve the tooth's enamel. In addition to the acidity of soda and other drinks, the acid found inour mouths can also add to the problem. The chemical reaction between your mouth's natural acidity and that found in the soft drink can result in significant tooth decay."
HOW CAN WE PROTECT OUR TEETH?
In order to protect your teeth, Dr. Balshi recommends rinsing your mouth with water immediately after drinking a soft drink and brushing at least 30 to 60 minutes later. Dr. Balshi adds, "Waiting to brush allows the tooth enamel to mount its own defense against the erosion caused by acids found in soft drinks. This is typically accomplished through protective agents in the saliva that help repair and rebuild damaged tooth enamel. If you brush your teeth too soon, you will brush off the affected layers of the teeth and prevent the teeth from mounting its own defense."
At the Institute for Facial Esthetics, Dr. Balshi has been compiling data on the severe enamel erosion associated with habitual soda drinking and the extensive repair measures required to bring patients back to normal function and appearance. In some cases extreme makeovers are required because of the devastation. Remarkable photographs can be viewed on the website at this link.
SHOULD WE GIVE UP ON SODA ENTIRELY?
According to Dr. Balshi, "A study performed at South Africa's University of Stellenbosch found that while fruit juices definitely provide more vitamins than soda, they are also acidic and cause demineralization and softening of the teeth. In fact, orange juice and Pepsi were found to be equally harmful to teeth. To avoid aches and pains, it is best to steer clear of soft drinks and juices. Stick to drinking water or naturally unsweetened teas that have less acidity and no sugar or other additives."
NOTE: Dr. J. Anthony Von Fraunhofer professor and Director of Biomaterials Science, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Maryland Baltimore Dental School conducted this study.
