Are sugar free beverages good for you? – Amm Dental Clinic

Everyone is trying to cut down their daily sugar intake. One way of doing that is by choosing sugar free beverages. But are sugar free beverages a healthy option for your teeth? The answer is NO, they are not, as the citric acid in the sugar free drinks causes damage by causing erosion of enamel. Erosion is a condition where enamel breaks down from the surface of the teeth because of the acids in your diet or from your stomach.

 It has been documented that acidic foods and beverages may wear away at tooth enamel resulting in tooth erosion (loss of enamel due to acid). This erosion is permanent and can lead to the development of caries or tooth decay. Australian Dental Association’s Australia’s Oral Health Tracker shows that 32.1% of people aged 15 and above have untreated tooth decay. Untreated tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in childhood.

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In a year, an average exposure of tooth enamel to these kind of drinks for an individual is roughly about 24 hrs. Recent research shows that when removed human teeth were placed for 24 hours in different sugar free beverages, the tooth showed signs of erosion. The worst damage was noted with sugary soft drinks and their sugar free counterparts. It has been noted in research that flavored sparkling water may also do similar damage, though not to the same extent. Hence it is safe to say that the more acidic the drink is the higher the chances of tooth erosion, especially with frequent consumption.

With above mentioned, you must be wondering what can I drink then?

It is recommended to drink fluoridated tap water. However, realistically we know that it is difficult to avoid these sugar or sugar free drinks completely. Therefore, what can you do to avoid or control the damage and protect your teeth?

We recommend

• Drinking fluoridated tap water. Milk is a very good alternative as it does not cause erosion. Avoid flavored mineral water/sugary drinks/sugar free drinks/sports drinks or at least cut down on them.
• Brushing twice daily with a fluoridated toothpaste
• Flossing every day to clean in between the teeth.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet that is low in added sugar and cut down on sugar or sugar free drinks. Check the ingredients and look out for the acidic ingredients like citric acid (ingredient number 330) and phosphoric acid (ingredient number 338).
• Do not brush your teeth straight after eating sugary drinks or sugar free drinks as you can damage the enamel. Rinse your mouth with water or eat a small piece of cheese after drinking a sugar or sugar free drink as alkalinity of cheese helps to balance out the acid attack on enamel. Please ensure that you are not allergic to dairy products.
• Visit the dentist regularly.

Negative Effects of Sugar-Free Carbonated Drinks

If you can't seem to get through the day without your favorite sugar-free beverage, it may be time to make some changes to your drinking habits. Sugar-free carbonated drinks, including diet sodas and sugar-free flavored sparkling water, may cause problems ranging from headaches to increased risk of developing diabetes. Even though these sugar-beverages contain fewer calories than traditional sugar-sweetened drinks, consuming them may contribute to weight gain.

Artificial Sweetener Side Effects

Not all sugar-free carbonated drinks contain alternative sweeteners, so check the ingredient list for aspartame, saccharin, sucaralose and acesulfame potassium. If one of these artificial ingredients is in your beverage, it may pose potential health side effects. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, these artificial ingredients may promote certain forms of cancer, thyroid problems and preterm birth. Some people also claim artificial sweeteners cause headaches and dizziness. However, artificial sweeteners still appear on the U.S. Food and Administration's "generally recognized as safe" list.

Weight Gain

Many people consume sugar-free carbonated beverages because they provide fewer calories than sugar-sweetened alternatives. However, the artificial sweeteners found in these drinks may actually lead to weight gain. According to an article published in the "Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine" in June 2010, eating natural sweeteners activates food reward pathways in your brain, but artificial sweeteners don't fully activate these pathways. This can leave you feeling unsatisfied and lead to an increased appetite, even if you've already eaten enough calories for the day. The intensely sweet flavor of artificial sweeteners may also trigger cravings for sugary food, leading to excess calorie intake.

Metabolic Syndrome

Drinking diet soda daily may cause metabolic problems. According to a study published in April 2009 in the journal "Diabetes Care," people who drink diet soda daily have a 36 percent higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome and a 67 percent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than people who consume no diet soda. Metabolic syndrome exists when you have at least three risk factors, including excess stomach fat contributing to an enlarged waist size, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, high fasting blood sugar or a low high-density lipoprotein level.

Teeth and Bone Problems

Carbonated diet drinks can also pose problems for your teeth and bones. Many carbonated beverages contain phosphoric acid, which keeps your drink carbonated. However, it makes the beverage acidic, which may cause erosion of your tooth enamel and promote tooth decay, according to North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension. Phosphoric acid also causes excess calcium to be excreted in urine. Calcium is released from your bones into your bloodstream to replace losses, which may weaken your bones over time. Check the ingredient list of your diet beverage to see if it contains phosphoric acid.

 

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