Carbonated beverages can hurt your teeth Published Aug. 17, 2011 By Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Drinking carbonated beverages and sports drinks can cause serious damage to your teeth. According to Col. (Dr.) Alan Sutton, a prosthodontist for the 59th Medical Wing, the main ingredients in carbonated beverages are sugar and citric acids which increase your chances of severe tooth decay and gum disease. Not only is the sugar content harmful to, but the acids attack and eat away at the tooth enamel, the strongest substance in the human body. "Most of us find that when we are looking for something to drink at work, in the grocery store or on base, we typically skip the water and grab a soda, power drink, or energy drink," said Dr. Sutton. "This is the wrong choice. These drinks are extremely acidic." Acidity is measured by what is called pH; the lower the pH, the more acidic the liquid. The human body's pH is around 6.8 to 7; the pH of many carbonated beverages is as low as 2, according to Dr. Sutton. "This is about 100,000 times more acidic than water," he explained. "Once a liquid's acidity is below 5.5 pH, the enamel and dentin of our teeth will begin to dissolve." New decay and tooth wear is common in young to middle aged adults, which is evidence that they have a chronic acidic drink habit causing dental erosion and corrosion. "Some people are addicts," he said. "These people drink 2-3 six-packs of soda each day. It sounds bad, because it is bad." Citric and phosphoric acids are the main players in tooth destruction, and are commonly used by beverage companies to artificially create the various fruit flavors. Citric acid is known to attract calcium, removing it from teeth. Most people assume that sports drinks are a healthy choice when exercising or extremely thirsty. This may not be the best assumption to make. Like carbonated sodas, sports drinks also contain a high level of sugar. "The ingredients in power drinks may be two to three times as destructive as sodas," warned Dr. Sutton. Many people even feel the carbonated beverages burn their throats. "Some hold the soda in their mouths before swallowing. This action holds the acidic drink onto teeth for a longer time and more destruction occurs," he explained. "People will then go and brush their teeth to get the drink residue off because they know it is bad, but this could cause additional damage by scrubbing away even more enamel." "Realize that our bodies are 55 - 60 percent water," he added. "So when you are thirsty, reach for water." Water may also help fight the lack of energy due to dehydration. The energy drink or soda will only make dehydration worse. "The bottom line is to always read the ingredients on the label before drinking it. If the beverage contains acid and/or sugar, limit the amount you drink each day," he recommends. "Should you choose a soda, do not sip on it for the next hour. Try to consume the drink within about 10 minutes and allow about 45 minutes for your saliva to neutralize and re-mineralize your teeth. And, hopefully, we won't see you in the dentist chair with multiple, multiple cavities."