This is for all the soda lovers..who have switched their drink from regular soda to diet soda thinking it will curb their calories. However, a new study finds consuming diet soda is harmful for the teeth much like consumption of methamphetamine or crack cocaine.
Excessive consumption of diet soda can have adverse effects on your teeth similar to what happens when crack cocaine or methamphetamine is consumed.
Dr. Mohammed Bassiouny’ theory
These are all highly acidic components and thus cause similar kinds of dental problems, said Dr. Mohamed Bassiouny, professor of restorative dentistry at the Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia
“You look at it side-to-side with ‘meth mouth’ or ‘coke mouth,’ it is startling to see the intensity and extent of damage more or less the same,” Bassiouny said.
Oral damage and tooth decay are common effects of consuming the highly acidic meth, crack cocaine and diet soda which are forms of citric and phosphoric acid.
Study details:
Bassiouny conducted a study which involved three kinds of women. The first, in her 30’s consumed diet soda on a regular basis, about two litres a day for over 3-5 years. The second woman was a methamphetamine addict and the third was a 51 year old cocaine user.
It was noted that the woman who consumed diet soda had similar tooth decay problems, discoloured teeth and eroded teeth like the other two subjects who consumed cocaine and meth.
Apparently, the woman would hold the the diet soda in her mouth for quite some time before she would gulp it down her throat, causing severe tooth decay.
The effects of consuming diet- soda, meth or cocaine are similar, however the degree of damage caused by the consumption of diet soda is far less than that of meth and crack cocaine.
Findings:
According to experts, three important factors need to be consider before consuming diet soda.
1)The quantity of diet soda should be monitored.
2)The frequency of the consumption of soda should also be observed.
3) Finally, the time period of holding the diet soda in your mouth should be considered.
Dr. Bassiouny concludes that the oral damage can be prevented by following certain steps in your daily life. Oral care such as brushing teeth twice daily would prevent tooth discolouration, Also something as simple as consuming plain water will wash away the acidity.
“None of the teeth affected by erosion were salvageable,” Bassiouny said.
The study was published in the journal General Dentistry.
