A Must Read!! Does Diet Sodas cause less Cavities?? By: Lisa Fillers Published: January 22, 2009 It would be natural for one to assume that drinking diet sodas would cause less cavities since diet sodas contain no sugar. However, dentists have been advising their patients for year about the effects on their teeth of too much caffeine and too much acidic beverage consumption. All sodas are very acidic, particularly colas, and regardless of being diet soda or regular soda. It would take a full quart of high pH alkaline water to neutralize the acid in a cola. The acid from the sodas eats away at tooth enamel and, once the enamel is broken, the teeth begin to decay. Proper brushing and flossing help in the fight against cavities but even the best dental hygiene cannot totally protect teeth with damaged enamel. The closer the body is to a normal pH level, which is slightly alkaline, the less cancer cells can grow. Drinking any soda drink greatly increases the acidic level and robs our bodies of oxygen. Diseases find a welcome breeding ground. Oral cancers and gum disease often plague heavy soda users. Decreased oxygen supply to the bones and teeth cause them to become brittle. The teeth can develop fractures and actually crumble away under prolonged oxygen depletion. Caffeine also robs our bodies of the much needed oxygen supply to maintain healthy bones and teeth. We also lose calcium and magnesium by consuming caffeine and both are vital to healthy teeth and bones. Most sodas, diet or the original formulation, contain caffeine. Combining the use of caffeine and the highly acidic properties of sodas on a daily basis sets the stage for dental problems occurring twice as fast. If a person who seldom consumed diet soda or regular soda suddenly began daily consumption of a diet cola, they would first notice an increase in cavities on oral exams. Minor cavities would soon be followed by deeper cavities, root canals, crowns, gum disease, cracking or crumbling of teeth, and tooth loss. They also face the possibility of an oral cancer erupting on a gum or inside the cheek. Over a period of time, the end result would be bridges and finally dentures. I saw countless cases such as these come through the dental office during my years in the dental field. Do not let the zero calories and lack of sugar fool you into thinking diet soda is better for you. They also contain a higher amount of sodium, or salt, and can cause many medical problems as well as the dental problems addressed above. Limit your use of sodas to occasional consumption and teach your children and grandchildren the risks involved in their use.
Posted on: Wed, 21 May 2014 19:57:46 +0000
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