08/10/23
It's well-known that certain foods and drinks are likely to cause teeth discoloration or make stains on your teeth, such as coffee, tea, and red wine. But what about soda? What kinds of effects can you expect from drinking sugary and carbonated beverages of various colors?
Well, the way in which sodas can affect your teeth is quite complicated, since there are light sodas, dark sodas, diet sodas, and full-sugar sodas. But, in this guide, we’ll simplify the whole situation and explain exactly what soda can do to your teeth.
So, does soda stain teeth? The simple answer is yes. If you drink lots of soda on a regular basis, you'll be more likely to have stained or yellowish teeth compared to someone who opts for safer alternatives, like water.
However, the way in which soda can stain your teeth and the risks of soda teeth stains will depend on which type of soda you drink. For example, dark sodas like cola tend to contain pigments that are more likely to lead to rapid staining.
Does this mean that light sodas are safe and won't cause teeth stains? Not at all. Even light and transparent sodas can still trigger teeth yellowing and stains over time, due to their acidic and sugary content.
So, how do sodas like Pepsi and 7UP affect your teeth and cause stains and discoloration? Well, it's mostly due to their acidic content. All sodas, both dark and light, tend to be high in acids that wear away at the enamel of your teeth.
Enamel is the outer layer on each tooth that helps to protect the more sensitive and delicate core from damages; it’s tough, but it can wear over time, especially when exposed to harmful elements and ingredients, like soda acids.
The acidic particles enter tiny holes or pores inside the enamel and erode it over time, making those holes bigger. As the holes grow, more soda and other stain-causing substances can get inside, causing the teeth to visibly change color.
It’s also worth noting that a lot of soda drinks are very high in sugar. Sugar can cause tooth decay, wearing away at teeth and making them weaker. This also makes the teeth more likely to become discolored as the years go by.
You might assume that dark sodas like Coca-Cola and Pepsi are the worst for teeth stains, since they're so dark. And, while it's true that cola-based drinks can be particularly bad for teeth, even lighter options like Mountain Dew also rank among the worst sodas for teeth.
In general, any soda that is high in acid and sugar will have a high chance of causing teeth discoloration, especially when consumed in large quantities. This is why it’s always best to drink soda in moderation, or opt for alternative drinks that are less sugary and acidic.
Clearly, soda is a risky thing to drink if you want to have a bright, white smile, and many people find out too late just how much damage their love of soda has caused to their teeth. Fortunately, even if you’ve been drinking soda for years and have yellow or discolored teeth as a result, there are options out there to help you make your teeth white once more.
While there are various teeth whitening methods and treatments you can use to get rid of soda stains, there are also plenty of simple lifestyle changes you can start making today to reduce the risks of your teeth yellowing from soda. Here are some expert-recommended tips and tricks to keep in mind: