Which drinks are worse for teeth?

by Nick Vagnoni, Posted Mar 10th 2006 @ 2:02AM

A new study from researchers at the University of Iowa School of Dentistry found that Gatorade eroded tooth enamel faster than Coca Cola, Diet Coke, Red Bull or apple juice. Researchers took extracted teeth and coated all but a few spots of each with nail polish. The teeth were then soaked in the sugary drinks for 25 hours, with the liquid being changed every five hours. In the end, Gatorade was the most corrosive on the spots without nail polish. A dental expert cited in a recent WebMD article says that so far, no data shows that sports drinks are actually any worse than sodas on teeth. He added that sipping sodas or other sugary drinks all day is far worse than having one with a meal, as the other foods in the mouth buffer the effects of the drinks. Another expert, quoted in a Forbes article, says that the acidity of these beverages is also to blame. Others critiqued the study, saying that a 25-hour period of exposure to sugary drinks had little to do with real-world situations.

Filed Under: Science, Trends, Drink Recipes
Tags: coca cola, corrosive, enamel, gatorade, red bull, soda, soft drinks, study, teeth

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-10-2006 @1:38PM Runner said... But, what happens if you brush your teeth after you eat? Wouldn't that take away the corrosive effect?
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4-02-2006 @5:53AM Albert Bar PhD said... Toothbrushing after consumption of acidic food or beverages does not help, but actually makes things worse. Due to the demineralizing (erosive) effect of the acids, the surface layer of the teeth has become softer. If you then brush with a toothpaste all of which contain polishing materials (abrasives), you brush away the softened surface layer. A much better method would be to eat a toothfriendly chewing gum or candy after consumption of acidic foods. Thereby you stimulate the flow of saliva. Saliva will neutralize the oral cavity and will provide calcium which is re-deposited in the softened surface layer (remineralisation) thereby repairing the initial defects.
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