Written By Make Northwest
We all know soda is bad for our teeth. But did you know that some sodas are worse for your teeth than others? Chase who does science experiments on his YouTube channelScienceC (video no longer available) wanted to know how bad his Mountain Dew habit was for his teeth. So in classic science fair style he threw a couple of his sister’s molars in soda for 3 weeks.
You can get all the details on his video, but here is a synopsis. Cola is 6 times more acidic than Mountain Dew. However, Mountain Dew contains a different type of acid that is more difficult for the saliva in your mouth to buffer so it makes your mouth acidic for a longer time and is more damaging to your teeth. Both Mountain Dew and the Cola were harmful to the teeth. But, he found that Mountain Dew dissolved away twice as much tooth as the Cola did.
So if you’re craving a fizzy drink do your teeth a favor and pick up a sparking water. It’s still acidic, but not as bad as soda.
FAQs
What is worse for your teeth coke or Mountain Dew? ›
Coca-Cola is therefore six times more acidic than Mountain Dew. Two molars were soaked in each soda for duration of 2 weeks and 5 days and observed for any changes. The tooth soaked in Mountain Dew lost 14 percent of its mass while the Coca-Cola tooth lost 7 percent of its mass.
Why is Mountain Dew bad for your teeth? ›The citric acid in Mountain Dew softens teeth, extracting the calcium components from teeth. The refined sugars in the soda feed bacteria (Streptococcus Mutans), which produces acid that further breaks down teeth.
What soda is worst for your teeth? ›Classic Cola (RC Cola, Coke, Pepsi)
Quite possibly the most iconic soft drinks, colas, are also the worst overall. The full sugar versions supply the highest acidity rates with RC Cola being the champion at 2.387, the very front runner of all options tested.
Unfortunately, dentists see varying degrees of it (also called “soda mouth”) all too often. Health experts familiar with the Appalachian region of the Eastern U.S. refer to the area's drink of choice, Mountain Dew, as a major reason for such high rates of advanced tooth decay and other dental problems.
What soda is best for teeth? ›To reduce the damage to your teeth, switch from colas to less acidic sodas, especially root beer, which is much less acidic. The most acidic soda on the market however is 7UP Cherry. The least acidic sodas include Mountain Dew, Mug Root Beer, Sierra Mist, Sprite, and Welch's Grape Soda.
Is there more sugar in Mountain Dew than Coke? ›A 12 oz can of Coca-Cola contains 39 grams of sugar. A 20 oz bottle of Mountain Dew contains 77 grams of sugar.
What Mountain Dew does to your body? ›Excessive sugar consumption leads to health issues such as diabetes, blood sugar, (blood sugar spike), and heart disease. This drink also contains caffeine. However, you'd need to drink six cans of Mountain Dew in one day to go over the recommended daily caffeine limit.
How bad is Mountain Dew for your health? ›Numerous studies have discovered that people who drink Mountain Dew frequently deal with weight gain, increased bad cholesterol, and a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Also, Mountain Dew features a citric acid, which may soften the enamel of teeth, stain teeth, and cause cavities.
Is Mountain Dew harmful to your health? ›Mountain Dew is not a healthy drink. People should avoid drinking excessive amounts of any soft drink and sugar-sweetened beverages, including Mountain Dew, so they control their blood sugars and weight, both of which are factors that can affect fertility.
Which sugary drink affect your teeth the most? ›"This study revealed that the enamel damage caused by noncola and sports beverages was three to 11 times greater than cola-based drinks, with energy drinks and bottled lemonades causing the most harm to dental enamel," he says, in a news release.
Does Coke weaken your teeth? ›
When you drink soda the sugars in the soda mix with the bacteria in your mouth to form acid. This acid attacks your teeth and can wear down the tooth enamel. The acid breaks down the enamel on your teeth and softens it, making the enamel more prone to decay.
Is sugar or carbonation worse for teeth? ›Sparkling water is far better for your teeth than sugary drinks. In addition, be sure to drink plenty of regular, fluoridated water, too—it's the best beverage for your teeth.
Does Mountain Dew dissolve teeth? ›Anthony von Fraunhofer found that citrus sodas like Mountain Dew and Sprite erode tooth enamel around six times faster than colas.