Diet soda and dental health in Yorktown Heights | Dr. Lerner

Focusing On Your Whole Body Health

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In today’s calorie-obsessed culture, it can be hard to hear the truth among all the other health-conscious noise. Yorktown Heights residents are frequently misinformed and misled about the health benefits of trends such as cleanses, sugar alternatives, diets, organic vs. nonorganic, and a myriad of other common topics. Today, Dr. Lerner would like to clear up any misconceptions about dental health and diet soda. If you have any questions please call us at The Center for Holistic Dentistry.

Are Diet Sodas Healthy?

The short answer: no. Originally conceived as low-calorie alternatives to one of America’s first commercial legacies, diet sodas have become extremely popular amidst our country’s never-ending battle to lose weight. There’s only one small problem – diet sodas are only marginally better than regular soda. Compared to water, diet soda has zero nutritional value and contains many ingredients that are harmful outside of moderation.

Diet Soda & Dental Health

Diet soft drinks are not good for your teeth. Although they are not as detrimental to your smile as regular sodas, which usually have around 45g of sugar per serving, sugar is not the only problem when it comes to soda consumption. For example:

  • Phosphoric acid and citric acid (present in nearly every type of diet soda) eat away at your enamel, causing acid erosion. If you like to sip soda throughout the day, your teeth may be under soda-fueled attack for several hours per day.
  • Carbonated colas have been shown to cause bone loss. As part of the body’s attempt to neutralize the disruption to pH levels in the stomach, calcium and other essential minerals are leached from the bloodstream to maintain pH equilibrium.
  • Artificial sweeteners in diet sodas, such as aspartame and sucralose, may help stall tooth decay, but health advocates warn that they may be linked to headaches and weight gain.
  • Diet sodas often contain caffeine, which has diuretic and laxative properties. Combined with the fact that drinking diet soda often means you are drinking less water can lead to a chronic dehydration problem. Dehydration can lead to dry mouth, bad breath, and increased risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

Do You Have to Give up Diet Soda?

We know that lots of Yorktown Heights folks love their soda and Dr. Lerner won’t tell anyone what they can and can’t drink, but The Center for Holistic Dentistry team also wants you to make informed decisions about your health. We want everyone in Yorktown Heights to have beautiful smiles and strong teeth, but it’s up to you to maintain healthy habits that keep your teeth safe between visits to our office. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an evaluation, give us a call today!


Sources

http://www.businessinsider.com/diet-coke-teeth-sugar-health-2011-10

http://www.livescience.com/7198-acids-popular-sodas-erode-tooth-enamel.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/28/diet-soda-teeth-similar-to-meth-photos_n_3348158.html

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"I can’t thank Dr. Lerner and his staff enough, notably his assistant Nicole for expertly handling my mercury filling removals.I had it done in 2 phases and they took very good care of me on both occasions. The whole office is very pleasant, so professional and I look forward to my visits. On this most recent cleaning appointment, Linda did my cleaning. She was gentle and thorough. Highly recommend."

- Vanessa R.

"Excellent experience during my initial consultation. The most complete examination I have ever had by a dentist, including full body muscle testing. This testing uncovered major alignment issues with my jaw which has been causing a lifetime of misalignment throughout the rest of my body. Dr. Lerner and his staff are outside the box thinkers and I am very happy I have found them."

- Greg R.

"Very professional and compassionate. Love the use of Nucalm, eye mask, calming music, and making removing my mercury fillings a pleasant experience. Well as pleasant as can be. Thank you!!!"

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"Been seeing Dr Lerner since I was about 11 years old, I’m now 31! I continue to see Jane for cleanings and just did the zoom whitening treatment with them in preparation of my wedding- highly recommend!"

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*The reviews listed are from actual patients of The Center For Holistic Dentistry. Individual results may vary. Reviews are not claimed to represent results for everyone.

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What To Expect On Your First Visit

Our mission is to encourage full-body wellness through oral health while allowing you to feel heard and understand all your options. During your new patient exam, Dr. Lerner will spend time reviewing your health history, concerns, and goals. Your comprehensive exam will address items you may not have considered such as airway screening and dental materials sensitivity testing. We look forward to meeting you!

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