Question about soda and teeth

So I was at the dentist today, it was my first time in years and they said my teeth are terrible and that I also shouldn't drink as much soda.

But what about stuff like sparkling water or seltzer? Those are also carbonated but do they not have the same stuff soda has that hurts your teeth?

Anyone know anything about this?

What hurts your teeth is sugar, so you should avoid any food or drink containing excessive quantities of it.

Not that it means much of a sacrifice today, as most beverages offer a sugar-free variant that rarely affects the taste. Food is a different thing, but if you can take out enough sugar from your drinks then it somehow compensates (though always try to avoid excessive quantities of anything).

If your teeth are this bad, I'd say the level of sugar in your blood stream is also over 9000 leaning towards the wrong side. Changing to sugar-free beverages will also benefit you in that way, so twice the reason.

"But what about stuff like sparkling water or seltzer? Those are also carbonated but do they not have the same stuff soda has that hurts your teeth?"

Frankly, I GARGLE with seltzer (not on a regular basis, though). It feels good between my teeth, and I believe it has a cleansing effect. It's largely the sugar that's the killer...or perhaps even sugar subs. I feel an immediate difference between the effect seltzer has and soda. There's a certain thickness in soda (due to the sugar) that can cause pain at times (and has a "diluted" bubbling sensation).

Sure, a dentist will go on about what soda can do to teeth left in a vat of coke for 24 hours, but really you shouldn't be leaving your teeth suspended in sugar overnight, it's common sense.

For real though, another thing to worry about is corrosive drinks in general. I don't know if you're a juice person or not, I don't mean to brag or anything but I'm a man who knows a thing or two about his juices. That and I did my research online. Coca-cola is actually a lower offender, but sprite is far more damaging to teeth. So is red bull and orange juice, but the most corrosive drink in general is actually apple juice. Lemon juice is worse and all, but unless you're me, you don't drink your lemon juice raw.

As Leo pointed out, I'd always heard that, while yes, sugar is very bad for your teeth, citric acid (naturally found in many fruits and added to drinks and candy to make it tart/sour) is just as much or more of a threat to your teeth than sugar is.

I know it's part do to the high sugar content and that corn caramel syrup. If you rub your tongue over your teeth after drinking soda you'll feel some residue left behind. Best thing to do is avoid soda and try clear drinks or use a straw and definitely brush at night so it doesn't sit there all night. Boil some soda and you'll see all the sugar it has.

you could drink soda, or any other corrosive drinks, through a straw.

Like everyone said, it's partly the sugar. But just as important, and perhaps more so, is the fact that Cola is VERY acidic.

Coke has a pH of 2.5. To put that in perspective, your stomach which is meant to digest things has a pH of around that same range (1.5-3.5), while water has a pH of 7 (lower is more acidic).

Sparkling water is closer to the neutral 7, and in fact might be a quite basic, around 8, if it's high in minerals (like S Pellegrino). It also contains no sugar, so you should be safe!

Light Knight : Thanks. I have no idea what pH is and all that but it sounds like I'm doing something right.

tRIUNE : People keep telling me that and I keep forgetting but it sounds like the smartest thing to do lol.