Can Soft Drinks and Other Acidic Beverages Eat Away Your Teeth?

Irene Li, Associate Editor | Aug 25, 2021 3:21 pm | Add a comment | 181 reads

Who doesn't enjoy a nice cola in summer when it is steaming hot? Well, a recent case about a young girl whose front teeth have been completely eroded away due to heavy consumption of soft drinks might make you think twice before guzzling.

The girl told a Peking University Hospital doctor that she began a habit of drinking soda in excess to help her destress while she was studying abroad.

This is certainly some jaw-dropping stuff and send shivers down the spines of heavy soft-drink consumers. It is no secret that many soft drinks we consume that are high in acids and sugar might wear away the enamel that protects our teeth. These acidic flavors open the doors for bacteria and can slowly soften and eat away our teeth. The remaining sugar left on our teeth will break down into acid that can also cause cavities.

The pH scale, running from 0-14, is a measurement for how acidic the beverages are, with 7 being neutral and 0 being the most acidic, and 14 being the least acidic (or most basic). Below we’ve listed out some of the common drinks in our daily lives. Find out how much acid you're exposing your pearly whites to!

1.Coke and Pepsi

They may be rivals, but they have a lot in common. For one thing, they both have a pH of around 2.5 – highly acidic! Soda can do horrible things to your teeth. They are powerful erosion propellers and can also provide fuel for bacteria that can promote cavities.

2.Beer and Wine

It turns out alcohol is on the acidic side too. Depends on the kind of wine you are getting though, as the pH of wine tends to vary widely. It usually falls into the range between 3-4. The pH for beer is usually around 3.4.

3. Coffee

A cup of black coffee has a pH level of 4.5, firmly on the acidic side. If you start to feel all that acid in your stomach, just remember that adding milk to your coffee will help balance out the pH levels. A latte has an average PH level of 6.3, making it a lot less acidic than a cup of Americano!

4.Tea

Is tea acidic? Well, yes and no! Green teas are hardly acidic at all pH a level around 7-9, making them great to balance out an acidic diet, while black teas can be on the acidic side at around pH 5 – still not as bad as coffee!

But be forewarned, sweeteners and added flavors, including lemon and syrups, can often add acidity to tea.

5.Seltzer

Seltzer is a form of carbonated water that's often combined with fruity flavors. The bubbles in seltzer come from carbon dioxide gas that has been dissolved under pressure. This process generates carbonic acid, which makes Seltzer relatively acidic. The pH level usually falls between 3 and 4.

6.Energy drinks

Common energy drinks generally have a pH level between 1.5 and 3.3. One of the most popular energy drinks in China, Red Bull, has a pH level of 3.3. Energy drinks with citrus flavors such as lemon, orange, and grapefruit can be even more acidic.