X
theAsianparent Philippines Logo
theAsianparent Philippines Logo
EnglishFilipino
Product GuideSign in
  • Building a BakuNation
  • Becoming a Parent
    • Trying to Conceive
    • Pregnancy
    • Delivery
    • Losing a Baby
    • Project Sidekicks
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Toddler Years
    • Preschool Age
    • Kids
    • Preteen & Teen
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • News
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Health & Wellness
    • Diseases & Injuries
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Preschool
    • K-12
    • Special Education Needs
  • Lifestyle Section
    • Celebrities
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Home
    • Travel and Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Fitness
    • Wellness
    • Money
  • Become a VIP
  • COVID-19
  • Press Room
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023

WATCH: Kid shows us how quickly Mountain Dew and Coca-Cola rots our teeth

3 min read

Most of us already know that soda is bad for our teeth. But do you know exactly how bad? Tom Scott of Things You Might Not Know teamed up with young YouTuber Chase Wiley (of ScienceC) to see how fast Mountain Dew and Coke rots teeth.

Scott said that Chase had sent him the best pitch he had ever received: “Hi Tom, I’ve got 2 of my sister’s teeth dissolving in soda.” Here’s how he conducted his experiment.

Chase confessed that he loves Mountain Dew, but that didn’t stop him from starting an investigation on its effects on teeth.

soda teeth

Photo: Shutterstock

He soaked two of his sister’s molars in soda for three weeks, and compared the effects

Chase found that the Mountain Dew tooth lost 14% of its mass, while the tooth soaked in Coca-Cola lost just 7% of its mass (though it ended up significantly stained).

Mountain Dew has a pH of 3.1 while Coca-Cola has a pH of 2.4—if you forgot your basic chemistry, that means that Coke is more acidic. You’d think that Coke would do more damage, but the results revealed that Mountain Dew is, in fact, worse for your teeth. How? Watch the video below to see Chase’s explanation:

Click to the next page to read more about how soda is harmful to your teeth.

Is diet better?

Because diet soda doesn’t have sugar, plenty of people think that it’s better for teeth. But actually, sugar-free isn’t much better, because diet soda often contains more acid than their regular counterparts.

Cola uses phosphoric acid, while citric acid is found in citrus-flavored drinks. While phosphoric acid is stronger, citric acid tends to be more damaging over the long run.

soda teeth

Photo: Shutterstock

What you can do to avoid tooth decay from soda

DO Drink your soda through a straw if you want to avoid cavities.

DON’T Don’t brush your teeth right after drinking an acidic beverage, because you’re actually scrubbing the acid into your tooth enamel. Wait a while or rinse your mouth with water before brushing.

Alternative drinks

The best way to avoid acid is to drink pure water. But there are other soft drinks that are not as harmful to your teeth.

Root beer, for example, is usually less acidic than other soft drinks because it doesn’t usually contain phosphoric or citric acid. Fruit juice, though acidic, is still less damaging than sodas.

Whatever you drink, it’s best to consume in moderation, and drink plenty of water.

READ: Most parents are guilty of this one mistake and don’t know it

Be sure to check out theAsianparent Community for more insightful stories, questions, and answers from parents and experts alike. If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ to stay up-to-date on the latest from theAsianparent.com Philippines!

Partner Stories
A mom’s responsibility: Getting vaccinated for her children
A mom’s responsibility: Getting vaccinated for her children
Clearing The Air About Colds
Clearing The Air About Colds
Fever Care Tips We Learned From Our Moms
Fever Care Tips We Learned From Our Moms
The Secret to Faster Fever Recovery
The Secret to Faster Fever Recovery

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Cristina Morales

Become a Contributor

  • Home
  • /
  • Diseases & Injuries
  • /
  • WATCH: Kid shows us how quickly Mountain Dew and Coca-Cola rots our teeth
Share:
  • PCOS symptoms: What you need to know about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

    PCOS symptoms: What you need to know about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

  • How to lose weight in a week: 14 steps to lose weight fast

    How to lose weight in a week: 14 steps to lose weight fast

  • Chubby doesn't always mean healthy—5 signs that your child is malnourished

    Chubby doesn't always mean healthy—5 signs that your child is malnourished

  • PCOS symptoms: What you need to know about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

    PCOS symptoms: What you need to know about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

  • How to lose weight in a week: 14 steps to lose weight fast

    How to lose weight in a week: 14 steps to lose weight fast

  • Chubby doesn't always mean healthy—5 signs that your child is malnourished

    Chubby doesn't always mean healthy—5 signs that your child is malnourished

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Baby Names
    • Delivery
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Advice for Parenting Kids
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Lifestyle Section
    • Local celebs
    • Celebrities
    • Money
    • News
  • FAMILY & HOME
    • Couples
    • Weekend & Holiday Guide
    • Health
  • Building a BakuNation
    • More
      • TAP Community
      • Advertise With Us
      • Contact Us
      • Become a Contributor


    • Singapore flag Singapore
    • Thailand flag Thailand
    • Indonesia flag Indonesia
    • Philippines flag Philippines
    • Malaysia flag Malaysia
    • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
    • India flag India
    • Vietnam flag Vietnam
    • Australia flag Australia
    • Japan flag Japan
    • Nigeria flag Nigeria
    • Kenya flag Kenya
    © Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
    About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
    • Tools
    • Articles
    • Feed
    • Poll

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

    theAsianparent heart icon
    Nais naming magpadala ng notification sa'yo tungkol sa latest news at update sa pag-aalaga ng baby at kanilang kalusugan.