Orbit, Coca-Cola, Diet, and Pepsi Max: Poison or not?

Here 🙄
Why don't you go ask your mother what the actual difference is between the carbonation in a Coke versus sparkling water? I’d love to hear her "scientific" explanation. 😁
And since we're talking about dental health, let's be real: the sugar in a Coke is going to wreck your teeth way faster than the bubbles ever will.

I feel like carbonated Cola is bad for you, but sparkling water isn't. It’s probably the bubbles that mess with your teeth. 😕 I honestly think it’s more about all the junk in Cola, like the sugar, rather than just the fizz. Besides, you aren't exactly letting it sit in your mouth for an hour; it just passes through. You're probably doing more damage to your stomach anyway.

Anyway, I usually avoid Cola altogether...

Peter Taylor63 said:Carbonated Cola is bad for you, but sparkling water isn't. I suspect the carbonation itself is what really does the damage to your teeth. 😕It seems more likely that all the various additives in Cola, like the sugar, are the main culprits rather than just the bubbles. Besides, you aren't exactly swishing Cola around your mouth for an hour; it just passes through. It probably messes with your stomach more than anything else.

As for me, I make a point of avoiding Cola quite regularly...

Well, it’s the combination of sugar and carbonation that erodes the enamel, though it might be even more aggressive than people originally thought.

I don't particularly care, honestly, but since I've heard enough about this topic already, I figured I might as well weigh in with my own two cents.

I don't drink Cola because I just can't stand it; I'd much rather have a Coke.😁

hmm...

The issue with Coca-Cola was the phosphoric acid—the same stuff dentists use (in much higher concentrations, obviously) to etch away enamel and dentin before they pop in a filling. Even though the concentration in a Coca-Cola is way lower, it sits on your teeth much longer than a quick 30-second dental procedure does. Now, the Coca-Cola produced here in the States hasn't had that phosphoric acid for a few years, I think, but if you grab a bottle filled at a plant in Canada, for example, you might find it's still in there.

As for the sugar and the carbonation... I'm not sure carbonation is doing much damage, but the sugar definitely is. Then again, there are plenty of things you eat that are way sweeter, so it's kind of a wash. Take raisins, for instance—they’re incredibly "cariogenic," even if they don't seem like it. Bananas fall into that group too. If anyone actually cares, I can list more.

Bottom line? Coca-Cola isn't some special kind of poison... but of course, that all depends on how you handle your oral hygiene. Don't go chugging Coca-Cola if you're planning to skip brushing your teeth or if you're just doing a half-assed job with the toothbrush—you'll end up in the same spot.

Also, stick to Diet Coke if you want to be safer. 🙂

The acidity of lemon can really mess with the flavor profile...
Do you tend to steer clear of it? 😁

Amanda Turner70 said:It's phosphoric acid—the exact same stuff dentists use at higher concentrations to etch away enamel and dentin before they put in a filling.

So yeah, it’s absolute garbage. 😁

Amanda Turner70 said:Hmm, let me think about that...

The issue with Coca-Cola used to be the phosphoric acid, which is actually the same stuff dentists use—though in much higher concentrations, of course—to etch away enamel and dentin when they're prepping a tooth for a filling. Now, even though the concentration in a Coca-Cola is significantly lower, I suppose it might affect your teeth over a much longer period than a quick thirty-second dental procedure would. Interestingly, I believe the Coca-Cola produced here in the States hasn't contained that specific acid for a few years now, though if you were to happen upon a bottle filled at a plant in a place like Canada, for instance, you might find that it still does.

As for the sugar and the carbonation... I'm not entirely sure that the bubbles themselves cause any harm, but the sugar certainly does. Then again, I guess there are plenty of other things we eat that are much sweeter, so maybe it all evens out. For example, raisins are incredibly cariogenic, even though most people wouldn't realize it. Bananas fall into that same category too. If anyone is interested in hearing more about those kinds of things, I could probably write a bit more on it.

All in all, I don't think Coca-Cola is doing anything particularly egregious on its own... though, naturally, everything depends on how well you maintain your oral hygiene. I mean, go ahead and drink your Coca-Cola, but if you skip brushing your teeth or just do a half-hearted job of it, you'll end up in the same boat regardless.

Also, sticking to Diet Coke might be a safer bet if you want to avoid the sugar altogether. 🙂

I actually just heard that same thing about raisins and bananas myself. 😁

Mom, is that you?? 😲 😲 😲

It’s not even 10:00 PM and you’re still lurking online!?!?!

Amanda Turner70 said:It’s almost ten in the morning and you're still online!?!?!

Forgive me, Mom—I've honestly had enough of this adult content; I don't think I can ever go back to it, especially since it just makes my nose sting like this. 😬>

Amanda Turner70 said:Hmm...

As for sugar and carbonation... I'm not sure if the bubbles themselves are the issue, but the sugar definitely is. Then again, there's plenty of even sweeter stuff in our diets, so maybe it doesn't matter much. Take raisins, for example—they're incredibly cariogenic, even if they don't seem that way. Bananas fall into that same category. There’s more where that came from if anyone actually wants to know...

Is that why raisins are preserved with SO2? Or what...?

Is the SO2 option safer?

Look, setting preservatives aside for a second—when you chew raisins, they basically turn into this super sticky, sugary sludge once they hit your saliva. It sticks to your teeth like glue and acts like high-octane fuel for bacteria.

Finally.

The research basically suggests—if you read between the lines—that grabbing one or two
beers is actually a better bet than slamming a liter of Cola.

There it is. I’ve been saying this for years...🙂

Seriously, you guys are being so sensitive.

If you drink coffee—you'll end up with stained teeth.
If you drink Cola—your teeth are toast.
If you drink hard liquor—your liver takes the hit.
If you drink beer—you're gonna get a gut.

Dammit—so what am I supposed to drink?!
Everything tastes good, and we're all gonna die eventually anyway...🙄

Some other study actually turned up showing that beer is basically loaded with female hormones... 🙂

You heard about that? 🙂

I honestly don't know, lol,

Look, I have maybe three beers a week, so I'm not exactly losing sleep over it.

Personally, I'm a total stoner... it keeps me happy and fills the gaps when things get boring.

Amanda Turner70 said:Some other study apparently proved that beer is packed with female hormones... 🙂

You heard about that? 🙂

Look, the liver breaks down estrogen, which men actually produce in small amounts too.

If you wreck your liver, those female hormone levels spike. Don't act surprised when you start growing man boobs and a backside.👍

Nah, give me a break...

They took ten guys—all different types, all over the map—and gave them each, I don't know, maybe a few rounds of decent beer... 🙂

And then what? They "noticed" that suddenly everyone started talking over each other, 90% of what came out of their mouths was total garbage, they lost the ability to drive or park a car properly, and they were picking fights for no reason at all...
The conclusion is pretty obvious: there's way too much estrogen in beer...

I don't touch anything carbonated. It just wreaks havoc on my digestion, and I have to stay away from sugar anyway.
Yeah, I’ll have a donut in the morning, but I usually heat it up first, so I guess it isn't quite as heavy. Honestly though, it tastes pretty revolting. Just gross. But, I suppose it helps.

loneowl45 said:Look, I’m no anti-consumerist activist, and this isn't some political manifesto. This is about health. My mother just gave me an earful about how dentists have discovered that almost every carbonated drink—aside from maybe sparkling mineral water, though even that’s debatable—destroys your enamel and fuels gum disease.

So, if you want to avoid ending up with a smile like 😬, stop drinking soda.

But man, I really love the bubbles. 😁