People are used to believing that caries is provoked by drinks with sugar content. Experts from Australia have refuted this myth. Scientists have shown that sugar-free candy and soft drinks are more harmful to the teeth than sugary counterparts. The study was conducted in Melbourne. During it, scientists tested more than twenty drinks.
There was no sugar or alcohol in their composition, but phosphoric and citric acids were present. Both posed a risk to dental health. Moreover, to a much greater extent than sugar, which is accused of caries. People are increasingly told that dental diseases are usually caused by sweets, doctors say. In fact, this is far from the case. The acidic environment causes much more damage to the enamel. The bacteria that cause disease use sugar for food. And only when saturated, dangerous pathogens produce acid, which leads to unhealthy enamel. The absence of sugar in beverages eliminates the first link in the chain. Disease-causing bacteria do not generate acid. It is already present in drinks, teeth “bathe” in it.
As a result, a high concentration of acids and microorganisms stimulates the onset of caries. In the most severe cases, it is able to expose the sensitive pulp of the tooth and penetrate deep into the enamel, completely destroying the tooth. To avoid such consequences for dental health, scientists advise against consuming drinks with no sugar or high acidity.