Diet Soft Drinks 'Cause Teeth Decay Similar To Cocaine And Meth' (PICTURES) | HuffPost Life

Diet Soft Drinks 'Cause Teeth Decay Similar To Cocaine And Meth'

The Huffington Post UK

Many weight watchers will opt for diet soft drinks because of the low calorie and fat content, but shocking pictures revealing the damaging effect that these drinks can have on teeth might make dieters think again.

A recent study has revealed that diet soft drinks can erode tooth enamel in a similar way to class-A drugs, crack cocaine or methamphetamine.

The report, published in General Dentistry, documents the teeth of three individuals: one diet soft drink consumer, one methamphetamine addict and one habitual crack cocaine addict.

A comparative photograph of a methamphetamine addict and excessive soft drink consumer

"Each person experienced severe tooth erosion caused by the high acid levels present in their 'drug' of choice - -meth, crack, or soda," lead report author Dr. Mohamed A. Bassiouny, a professor of restorative dentistry at Temple University's Kornberg School of Dentistry, said in a statement.

The American Beverage Association disputed the case study, according to USA Health Daily.

"The woman referenced in this article did not receive dental health services for more than 20 years -- two-thirds of her life," they said in a statement. "To single out diet soda consumption as the unique factor in her tooth decay and erosion -- and to compare it to that from illicit drug use -- is irresponsible."

Story continues below...

7 Foods That Are Bad For Teeth

Dried Fruits(01 of07)

While dried fruits may be a definite step up from processed fruit snacks, they are still sticky and high in sugar. That means they not only adhere to teeth easily, but the sugar feeds the bacteria in the mouth, which can promote dental erosion, notes Joy Dubost, Ph.D., R.D., a spokesperson for the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "I'm not saying don't eat them, but just brush your teeth afterward," Dubost says. Messina adds that regular fresh fruits don't typically have this problem because -- even though they still have sugar -- chewing them up promotes saliva and they don't stick to the teeth. "Fruits are generally pretty safe because they're good for overall health and they're chewy, so your average fruit has some substance to it and we chew through it, causing us to salivate more," Messina says. "Saliva is a good thing because it has washing action and it's a nautral buffer [to] acid." (credit:Shutterstock)

Sugary Drinks(02 of07)

Sugary drinks, such as sodas and sports drinks, are especially bad for teeth when sipping for long periods of time. "If I have a soft drink or sports drink and I'm sipping it every 20 minutes, my teeth are getting bathed with a constant layer of acid," Messina says. "So sitting down and drinking it all at once, or with a meal, is better than snacking or sipping throughout a meal."For this reason, Dubost recommends that parents don't fill their kids' sippy cups with sugary drinks, since kids, whose teeth are still developing, tend to sip at those drinks over long periods of time. (credit:Shutterstock)

Hard Candies(03 of07)

For the same reason sipping on sodas all day is bad for teeth, hard candies aren't ideal for oral health, Dubost notes. These sweets pack a double whammy in that they not only stick to the teeth, but they also linger in the mouth for a long time as you wait for them to dissolve. (credit:Shutterstock)

Alcohol(04 of07)

You may not realize it, but alcohol can be bad for the teeth, as it causes natural saliva production to decrease, according to the Yale Medical Group. And again, saliva helps to wash away food particles and provides a buffer against acid. People who are alcoholics may experience dental and gum disease since "alcohol irritates all the soft tissue in the mouth and it decreases the amount of natural saliva," Dr. Parimal Nagjee, a dentist in Beverly Hills, told The Fix. "In terms of the tissue, the skin of the mouth is very delicate and the alcohol is corrosive to the gums, cheeks and skin. It can affect the way the tissue cells divide, which is why people who drink heavily have a greater chance of getting mouth or throat cancer.” (credit:Shutterstock)

Citrus/Acidic Foods(05 of07)

Foods high in acid, such as citrus or tomatoes, can promote tooth decay, especially when eaten alone, Dubost notes. But these foods are fine to eat so long as you flush your mouth with water after consuming them in order to buffer the acid. Citrus not only has acid, but also sugar -- and people who have a habit of sucking on lemons or limes are actually harmfully bathing their teeth in acid, Messina says. "If you look in their mouths, their teeth have a shiny, glossy surface -- that's from constant bathing with the acids," he says. "They will have almost a peculiar look in that you'll see it on the front surfaces of their teeth, but not the back sides of the lower front teeth because those are under the tongue -- and the tongue protects the surface of teeth." (credit:Shutterstock)

Starchy Foods(06 of07)

Starchy foods, such as potato chips and white bread, easily get trapped in teeth, which can then feed the bacteria that make up plaque, according to the Yale Medical Group. (credit:Shutterstock)

Coffee(07 of07)

Not only do drinks like coffee and tea stain the teeth, they also make the teeth stickier -- meaning more food particles can latch on, Messina says. (credit:Shutterstock)

They added: "The body of available science does not support that beverages are a unique factor in causing tooth decay or erosion."

Speaking to Business Insider, lead-author Bassiouny defended the study, claiming that he had seen many soda-related erosions during his dental career.

"I was trying to make a parallel between drug abusers — and the usual neglect for themselves — and put this with the same traits of someone who drinks diet soda," Bassiouny said.

Earlier this year it was revealed that sugary soft drinks could be causing almost 200,000 deaths a year worldwide and the Harvard School of Public Health claim that one can of fizzy drink per day increases the risk of heart disease by nearly a quarter.

According to HuffPost Canada soft drinks are not the only beverage that are bad for your health.

They spoke to registered dietitian Patricia Chuey to find out the truth about 'healthy drinks'.

HuffPost UK Lifestyle were surprised by the results. Take a look.

Are These 'Healthy' Drinks Unhealthy?

Store-Bought Smoothies (01 of08)

If you're looking for a nutritious smoothie, you're better off making your own. "Homemade is way better because you can reduce the sugar and boost the protein with yogurt, tofu, nut butters, protein powder or others," says Patricia Chuey, a registered dietitian based in Vancouver. Chuey adds commercial smoothies (like the ones from juice bars or the Tim Hortons mixed fruit smoothie with 30 grams of sugar) often tastes sweeter and have added carbs from sugar. (credit:Alamy)

Red Wine (02 of08)

We've all heard about health benefits of red wine including reducing the risk of breast cancer and promoting a healthy heart. "Red wine is cardio-protective due to the presence of resveratrol — a naturally occurring substance in grapes," Chuey says. But other studies have shown that if you're already healthy, red wine isn't always needed to boost life expectancy, according to The Daily Mail. Chuey says you says you can skip the alcohol and get healthy heart benefits from eating fresh grapes or unsweetened grape juice instead. (credit:Alamy)

Green Tea And Black Tea (03 of08)

On their own, both green tea and black tea actually quite good for you. "They are rich in various antioxidant nutrients that offer heart protecting and cancer preventing properties," she says. But don't ruin the benefits by adding sugar. (credit:Alamy)

Milk: Is Soy Milk Or Almond Milk Better?(04 of08)

"Whether you drink dairy milk, soy milk, almond milk, rice milk or potato milk, ensure it naturally contains or is fortified with calcium and vitamin D," Chuey says. She notes that people don't need to drink more than two glasses of a milk per day. (credit:Alamy)

Coconut Water(05 of08)

If you're comparing this to pop, go for it. "It's far more natural than pop, but you should still read labels and check sugar levels," she says. However, other reports have shown that coconut water or juice isn't always hydrating and shouldn't be replaced for water if you're active. (credit:Alamy)

Diet Pop(06 of08)

Just because you don't see any sugar or calories, it doesn't mean diet pop will help your health. Even though artificial sweeteners are safe for most people, don't rely on diet pop to help you lose weight or have a healthier lifestyle, according to The Mayo Clinic. In fact, research has also shown that artificial sweeteners can confuse our brains to thinking were drinking calories, making our body release unwanted insulin, according to The Doctor Oz Show. (credit:Shutterstock)

Iced Tea: Safe?(07 of08)

"Well it depends. Many commercial iced teas are lousy. They are too high in sugar with little or no real tea," she says. Instead, try making your own iced tea with brewed tea, lemon and honey. (credit:Alamy)

Hot Chocolate (08 of08)

Hot chocolate made from a tin can? You might want to skip it. "Hot chocolate made from lower fat milk (dairy or otherwise) with real cocoa and a bit of sweetening is fine," Chuey says. "Made with water from a pseudo-cocoa chemical concoction? Not good." (credit:Alamy)

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