Patient Services

Kids Prevention Club

DRINKS THAT AFFECT TEETH

Drinks have emerged as one of the most significant sources of acid.

Drinks such as regular soda, diet soda, sports drinks, canned iced tea and lemonades can lead to extensive tooth decay and enamel destruction because of the low pH or acidity of the drinks.

Enamel is the hardest substance in the body but it is susceptible to breakdown from acids found in soda/drinks. The more acidic the drink (the lower its pH), the more rapid the enamel destruction. Tooth enamel dissolves below 5.5.

It is important to note that exposed root surfaces de-mineralize twice as fast as that of enamel.

Soda/drinks may contain carbonic, phosphoric, malic, citric and tartaric acids and therefore have an acidic pH. Drinks that contain artificial sweeteners still pose a significant threat because of their acidic content.

Acid (pH) Low=Bad
Water Brewed Black Coffee Brewed Black Tea A&W Root Beer Diet Sprite Sprite Diet Dew Diet Coke Mountain Dew Gatorade Canada Dry Ginger Ale Diet Pepsi Arizona Iced Tea HI Punch Coke Pepsi	7.00 (neutral) 6.25 5.36 4.80 3.34 3.27 3.27 3.22 3.14 2.95 2.94 2.94 2.94 2.82 2.48 2.46

There are other areas of the body which are affected:

The phosphoric acid in beverages leaches calcium from bones, promoting osteoporosis
The intake of excess calories from soda is contributing to the obesity/diabetes
epidemic that is occurring in children/teenagers today.

The best things to drink are WATER, MILK and 100% FRUIT JUICE, with the understanding that even milk and juice have sugar that can lead to decay.