A study suggests that overconsumption of diet soda may cause teeth to decay similar to a met or coke addict.
Diet soda is very acidic similar to methamphetamine or cocaine. It directly affects the teeth as the liquid passes through it when a person drinks. If not paired with proper dental hygiene, the teeth will be drastically damaged.
Dr. Mohamed Bassiouny, lead author of the study and a restorative dentistry professor at the Temple University School of Dentistry, assessed the dental record of a woman who was in her 30s. The patient had not visited a dentist for 20 years and her diet soda consumption was 2 liters per day for five years.
Bassiouny compared the patient's teeth to a 29-year old regular user of methamphetamine for three years and a 51-year old coke addict for 18 years. Their teeth were soft, discolored and cracked. All of their teeth needed to be extracted.
Aside from the acid destroying the teeth, both met and coke also slow down the production of saliva which is supposed to be the natural acid regulator of the mouth
Complete details of this study were published in the journal General Dentistry.
Meanwhile, The American Beverage Association, which speaks for all the soda manufacturers, said in an interview with HealthDay that the consumers should not stop drinking soda in fear of losing their teeth. The subject of the study lost her teeth because she was not visiting a dentist which could be a major factor of the damage.
Dr. Eugene Antenucci, spokesman for the Academy of General Dentistry, said in an interview with HealthDay as well that the dental industry does not recommend patients to stop soda drinking but rather reminding them of its effect on their mouth. Water alone can wash the acid from their mouth.
