Dentist spills beans on whether diet drinks are just as bad for teeth as sugar

A dentist has dished the dirt on whether diet drinks containing sweeteners are actually better for your teeth than the sugar-laden alternative.

Anna Peterson surprised many people when she revealed that, actually, both options can lead to tooth decay.

Responding to a follower’s question on her @annapetersondental TikTok account, Anna says: “So we know that sugary drinks are bad for you because sugar causes tooth decay.”

“And this is done by the bacteria in the mouth feeding on the sugars and excreting acids onto the tooth which causes tooth decay.

“But diet drinks are very acidic and this acidity dissolves the enamel of the tooth, weakens the enamel, and in turn causes cavities.”



The dentist explains what happens when you drink diet pop

The dentist then offers some recommendations for people who enjoy drinking acidic drinks.

She says: “The first thing you can do is drink them through a straw.”

The dentist also recommends not sipping on them throughout the day instead of trying to “drink them all in one go”.

“And thirdly, have them with a meal because when you’re having a meal it’s an acid attack anyway,” she continues.

Finally, Anna says the most important thing, of course, is to “brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste”.



Signs of gum disease include bleeding, red, swollen gum and bad breath
Signs of gum disease include bleeding, red, swollen gum and bad breath

The video has been watched more than 20,000 times since it was uploaded on July 29 and many people admitted they found it difficult to drink plain water.

One user said: “Is no added sugar squash drinks really bad to drink throughout the day? I don’t tend to drink much if I have pure water.”

Another user said: “I have to wonder why in my entire life no dentist ever seemed too interested in explaining this to me.”



Bottle with energy drink
Diet drinks can be very acidic which is bad for teeth

“Thank you so much for the reply! I’m definitely going to drink fewer fizzy drinks now,” commented the woman who asked the question.

Water is cheap and healthy and has no calories and contains no sugars that can damage teeth.

According to the NHS, if you struggle to drink water then tea, fruit tea, or coffee (without added sugar) can also be healthy and it also recommends drinking an unsweetened glass of low-fat milk.

The health service also suggests drinking no more than 150ml of fruit juice or smoothies a day because they are high in sugar.

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