Ready to be shocked? Did you know that drinking large amounts of your favorite carbonated soda could damage your teeth as much as methamphetamine and crack cocaine use. The use of illegal drugs and heavy consumption of soda can cause similar damage to dental enamel. Both cause the process called tooth erosion according to a new study published in the March/April 2013 issue of General Dentistry, a highly respected dental journal.
The enamel is the hard glossy outer layer of the tooth. Its function is to be the protective outside layer of the tooth. The tooth erosion occurs when substances with acids erode tooth enamel.
Without the protection provided by the enamel, teeth are more likely to develop cavities, as well as becoming cracked, discolored and sensitive.
The latest study compared the damage in the mouths of three individuals. One a user of methamphetamine, a longtime previous user of cocaine, and an very heavy diet soda drinker. Each was seen to have poor oral hygiene and admitted to not visiting a dentist on a regular basis.
Remarkably, the study found the same amount and kind of damage from tooth erosion in each persons mouth, both heavy soda users and drug users.
Mohamed A. Bassiouny, DMD, MSc, PhD, lead author of the study said “Each person experienced severe tooth erosion caused by the high acid levels present in their ‘drug’ of choice-meth, crack, or soda.” “The citric acid present in both regular and diet soda is known to have a high potential for causing tooth erosion,” says Dr. Bassiouny.
Similar to citric acid, the ingredients used in preparing methamphetamine can include corrosive materials, such as battery acid, and drain cleaner. In addition crack cocaine is also highly acidic as well.
The individuals who were classified as abusers of soda consumed 2 liters (2000 ml) of diet soda daily for three to five years. Says Dr. Bassiouny, “The striking similarities found in this study should be a wake-up call to consumers who think that soda-even diet soda-is not harmful to their oral health.”
In my Encino dental office we recommend that our patients minimize their intake of soda and drink more water. The subject of crack cocaine does not come up too often. Additionally, we advises our patients to either chew sugar-free gum or rinse the mouth with water following consumption of soda. Both tactics increase saliva flow, which naturally helps to return the acidity levels in the mouth to normal levels.
Tip of the Day: Almost everyone is under hydrated, especially in the summer. As the above study says, try to reduce the use of diet sodas and cocaine. Both are bad for your teeth. Replace them with good old fashioned water. It improves your hydration and who knows what else.
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I commend you for taking such a bold stance against one of our nation’s worst habits. Good on you for highlighting that diet drinks are also taboo. Great article!
Dr. Patrick Allan