The surprising link between diet soda and tooth decay

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The surprising link between diet soda and tooth decay

Many clients that visit Scarborough dental offices don’t know that diet soda is almost equally bad for their teeth as normal soda. While diet soda contains no sugar, it can cause significant tooth decay through high acidity, which erodes tooth enamel just as effectively as the acid produced by sugar. This means switching from regular to diet soda does not make it a healthier choice for your teeth.

Acid is the problem:

Both regular and diet sodas are highly acidic, containing phosphoric and citric acids that eat away at tooth enamel. This process is known as dental erosion.

  • Enamel can’t regrow: Unlike cavities, which can be filled, enamel loss to acid erosion cannot be regenerated naturally.
  • Sensitivity: As the protective enamel layer wears down, it exposes the sensitive inner layer of the tooth, which can cause pain when consuming hot, cold, or sweet foods.
  • Constant attacks: If you sip soda throughout the day, your teeth are under constand “acid attack,” which is more damaging than drinking the soda all at once.

Diet vs. regular soda: The dental difference

  • Regular soda: The sugar combines with bacteria in your mouth to form plaque and acid, which attacks and weakens tooth enamel. 
  • Diet soda: While diet versions lack sugar, they often contain even higher concentrations of other acids to compensate for the taste. Studies have found that diet sodas can cause the same amount of tooth erosion as regular sodas.
  • Dry mouth: Diet sodas often contain caffeine, which is a diuretic that can lead to dehydration and dry mouth. Reduced saliva means less natural protection to wash away food particles and neutralize acid, increasing the risk of both decay and gum disease. 

At the Smile Team, we provide our clients with the best treatment options for them so book a consultation with Dr. Abid Hidayat today.  We are open Mondays to Saturdays and speak GUJARATI, HINDI, URDU, TAGALOG and ARABIC. You can reach our family dental  care office in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, by calling 416-546-5599.