I often get asked by patients, “Is drinking coffee/tea/soda/insert-your-choice-of-beverage bad for my teeth?” Our teeth may be one of the hardest substances in our bodies, but even they are vulnerable to certain things.
Our teeth are primarily composed of minerals. When they come into contact with acids, there is potential for our tooth material to soften and dissolve. Acidity is measured on a pH scale–here’s your quick chemistry lesson of the day–the lower the pH, the more acidic a substance is. Saliva is at pH 6.5, which keeps our teeth healthy. Anything below pH 5.5 can dissolve the minerals in our teeth. When the minerals are dissolved, you run a higher risk of developing cavities and tooth sensitivity.
A recent issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association, April 2011 addresses this ever-growing trend. Here is a list of some commonly consumed drinks with their respective pHs:
1. Sports Drinks
- Powerade, pH 2.75
- Gatorade, pH 2.95
2. Fruit Juice
- Orange Juice, pH 3.5
- Apple Juice, pH 3.2
- Cranberry Juice, pH 2.6
- Lemon Juice, pH 2.0
3. Soda & Carbonated Beverages
- Coca Cola & Pepsi, pH 2.5
- Sierra Mist, pH 3.0
- Barq’s Root Beer, pH 4.6
4. Fruit-flavored Drinks
- Snapple, pH 2.4
- SoBe Tropical sugar-free, pH 2.5
- Capri Sun, pH 2.6
5. Iced Tea (not normal brewed, which has pH 7.2, but “iced”)
- Snapple Tea, pH 3.2
- Nestea Sweetened Lemon Iced Tea, pH 2.97
- Lipton Brisk, pH 2.87
6. Flavored Water
- Propel, pH 3.2
7. Wine & Beer
- A typical California Chardonnay, pH 3.4
- Other table wines, ranges pH 3.3-3.7 ( (in general, the sweeter the wine, the more acidic))
- A typical beer, ranges pH 3.7-4.1
8. Coffee
- Ranges from pH 5-6, depending on where the beans are grown
You might be reading this and wondering, “So what drinks are NOT acidic?” Well, good ol’ water (pH 7, San Pellegrino has pH 7.7), milk (pH 6.8), and soymilk (pH 7) are some good choices. Healthy for your body, healthy for your teeth! Surprisingly, coffee is not as acidic as some of these other drinks.
In the end, I always say anything in moderation–I do enjoy my acidic beverages too. Don’t sip them all day long. Use a straw. Consume these drinks with a meal. Rinse with water afterwards. Chew some sugar-free gum. I would advise waiting to brush for 20 minutes–if you’ve got tooth-softening acid on your teeth, the last thing you want to do is run your abrasive toothbrush over them. Using recommended products to combat acid damage. Professional fluoride treatments. Remember, we are talking about acid content here, the high sugar content in many of these drinks is an entirely separate issue.
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Happy sipping!
Vivian Tang, D.D.S.