Kick the Can: Sodas Erode Tooth Enamel

Studies have shown that the erosive potential of sodas is 10 times that of fruit juices in just the first three minutes of drinking. Additionally a study published in Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) journal General Dentistry reports that drinking any type of soft drink hurts teeth due to the citric acid and/or phosphoric acid content.

The study measured the pH level of 20 commercial soft drinks including Coke, Pepsi, 7 Up and their diet versions immediately after cans were opened. Slices of enamel from freshly extracted teeth were weighed before and after being immersed in samples of each of the soft drinks for 48 hours.

The result of the study was that the teeth immersed in Coke, Pepsi, RC Cola, Squirt, Surge, 7 Up and Diet 7 Up lost more than 5 percent of their weight, according to the report by Poonam Jain of the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine and her colleagues. (Other sodas brought about losses in the enamel weight in the range of 1.6 percent to 5 percent).

The pH scale is a logarithmic scale that ranges from 0-14 pH with 7 being neutral, anything below 7 is acidic and anything above 7 is alkaline. Battery acid has a pH of 1.0, distilled water at room temperature has a nuetral pH of 7.0, and the pH level Healing Water Machines recommends drinking is 9.5.

RC Cola was found to be the most acidic soft drink studied, with a pH of 2.387, Cherry Coke ranked the second most acidic (pH of 2.522), and Coke came in as the third most acidic soda tested (pH of 2.525).

The results show that a sodas acidity is not the whole story when it comes to tooth erosion. The type of acid in the soda, level of soda and calcium content are also factors. Citric acid is the most erosive acid found in soft drinks and is the predominant acid in non-cola drinks.
Root beer was found to be the least acidic of all soft drinks, with a pH 4.038 for the Mug brand. The reason for the reduced acidity is that root beer is often non-carbonated and contains no phosphoric or citric acids.

A 2006 study reported that orange juice and sports drinks also reduce the surface hardness of tooth enamel, but a soda reduced more—the dentin, surface enamel and two additional dental components. (Dental erosion refers to the action of acid on the entire tooth surface. Cavities and tooth decay tend to hit targeted areas, such as pits, grooves and spots where teeth are adjacent).

In 1966, Americans drank, on average, 20 gallons of soft drinks per year. Today we drink almost 50 gallons of soft drinks annually.

We strongly urge you to eliminate or reduce your soda consumption immediately. If you must indulge in an occasional soda, it's best if you make it a root beer, drink it through a straw and only drink with meals. Better yet, invest in a Chanson ionzer for fresh, alkaline water at the push of a button to combat the acidity in your diet. Visit http://www.healingwatermachines.com/ for more information.

Why Soda is Bad for your Teeth

Yellow stains aside, brewed coffee or tea may not be the worst thing you could swish past your pearly whites. Other drinks tested in a recent study produced much more wear and tear on tooth enamel, especially bubbly soft drinks.

But here's the surprise: It didn't matter if the sodas were diet or not. When your tooth enamel starts to erode, you've got major problems on your hands. And certain foods like sweets and sodas may hasten this process. All carbonated drinks in a recent study had some impact on tooth enamel (with the one possible exception being root beer -- its impact on tooth enamel was slight). Citrus-flavored sodas hit teeth hardest, but colas caused problems, too. And it didn't matter if the drinks were diet or full-sugar. It's the AcidsContrary to what you might think, it's not only the sugars in bubbly beverages that erode tooth enamel. It's also the acids.

The total acid content and acid type -- look for names like phosphoric, citric, malic, and tartaric -- in a beverage affect how strong the attack is on your choppers. Rinsing after sipping a soda may hasten the acids out of your mouth. Maintaining proper body ph is crucial to your health. Drink alkaline ionized water daily as a first line of defense to properly alkalize your body and protect against disease and tooth decay.

By Nedalee Ruiz Nedalee is the author of The Desperate Parents Handbook
http://www.desperateparent.com/
To find out more about Ionized water, Nedalee recommends
http://www.healingwatermachines.com/
Copyright © 2007 By Nedalee Ruiz Permission granted to reproduce in entirety only