It’s no secret that soda is one of the worst things you can drink if you care about your teeth at all.

Here are some more fun facts: diet sodas are just as bad for your teeth as regular sugared brands, and within three minutes of drinking a cola beverage, the potential for dental erosion is 10 times that of fruit juices.

Non-cola beverages are less acidic than colas, they are loaded with citric acid. This is extremely corrosive to tooth enamel.

Are you thinking about becoming a full-time water drinker yet?

Researchers at Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine recently set out to discover just which of the various sodas are the worst for your teeth. Some info about the study:

Led by Poonam Jain, the researchers measured the acidity or pH level of 20 commercial soft drinks, including Coke, Pepsi, 7-Up and their diet versions, immediately after the cans were opened. Next, slices of enamel from freshly extracted human teeth were weighed before and after being immersed in the soft drinks for 48 hours.

Here’s the summation of what they found out: Coke, Pepsi, RC Cola, Squirt, Surge, 7-Up and Diet 7-Up lost more than 5 percent of their weight, while the remaining sodas created enamel weight losses ranging from 1.6 percent to 5 percent.

The sodas that caused the most damage were:

• Coke
• Cherry Coke
• RC Cola

If you absolutely must drink soda, the best thing you can do is limit your intake, and use a straw. The less actual contact with your teeth, the better off you will be.

By now you have probably read, watched, or heard of the ABC News story about the man who died from a toothache.

A brief summary, if not: a 24-year-old man had no health insurance, and thus couldn’t afford to get his wisdom teeth out. They became infected, and the infection spread to his brain, eventually killing him.

Tragic to be sure, and while there’s a massive argument to be had about universal health care, this isn’t the place for it.

Here’s a quote about the other part of this discussion that should be read and absorbed well.

“People don’t realize that dental disease can cause serious illness,” said Dr. Irvin Silverstein, a dentist at the University of California at San Diego.”The problems are not just cosmetic. Many people die from dental disease.”

Heart disease and many other problems are linked to problems that find their origins in the mouth – do some reading at the Mayo Clinic’s website.

In short, find a way to get to your dentist!

One thing that strikes me about ABC’s headline: he didn’t technically die from a toothache. That seems a bit sensationalistic. He died from an infection.

Here at Glisten Dental we are gearing up for 2013! One of our exciting offerings for the Tulsa area is an improved version of our in-office discount plan. For a small yearly membership fee, you and your family can receive 2 complimentary cleanings a year PLUS 20% off all dental services and treatment that you need. You can read more about it under “downloadable forms” on our website or call us at 918-254-8686.