Diet Soda vs. Regular Soda: Which is Better for Your Teeth?

During the warmer spring and summer months, it’s often tempting to reach for that sweet, carbonated drink to replenish your thirst. Though the crisp, refreshing, and zesty taste may be difficult to find elsewhere, this treat might come at the expense of your dental and even general health. The two main factors in soda which contribute to tooth decay are sugar and acidity. Below is a comparison of the levels of sugar and acid in both regular and diet soda, and some alternative suggestions. 

Sugar: Drinks like Coke, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, and others, are loaded with sugar. A typical 12-ounce can has about 10 teaspoons of sugar… and that’s a lot. Whether you sip on a soda gradually or throughout the day, that’s still 10 teaspoons of sugar which passes through your teeth. (And, no… in this instance, a teaspoon of sugar — or 10 — will not help the medicine go down.) Diet soda, because of the artificial sweeteners, contains a lot less sugar. However, over-consumption of artificial sweeteners are also known to create potential health problems. Nevertheless, in regards to sugar alone, diet soda is the winner. 

Acidity: Both regular and diet sodas have a large amount of acidity, and are actually just slightly less acidic than the acid in our stomachs. A soda’s pH (a measure of the acidity in a liquid; a lower pH means a greater acidity) is only just slightly less acidic than stomach acid.  For comparison, the acid in our stomachs typically reaches a pH measurement of 1.5, while the pH of plain tap water is 7. The pH of coke and regular sodas typically hovers around 2.5, while the pH of diet soda is approximately 3.3. So, between the two, diet coke is actually less acidic.

Summary: Because of the lower amount of acidity and sugars, diet soda is a little better for your teeth, but just marginally. Check out these alternatives: 

If you consume more than one soda a day, try to substitute one of your sodas with another tasty drink. Find a great fruit juice that does not contain all the sugars or an all-natural energy drink. Zevia is a zero-calorie soda with no artificial sweeteners that only contains all-natural ingredients. Even if you consume soda just once a day or once a week, try to alternate between the soda and juice, or regular soda and Stevia soda for awhile. We think you’ll feel a little better and also have more confidence with that beautiful smile!