Alternative Soda Hack Trending on TikTok Will Harm Your Teeth

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A recently posted video on TikTok has already garnered more than 6.3 million views claiming that a mixture of balsamic vinegar and flavored sparkling water creates a "healthy" alternative to soda prompted a group of researchers in the American Dental Association to warn against adding acids to sugar-free drinks so as not to lead to the erosion of tooth enamel.

Acid Warnings

Well, here we have to note that the erosion of the tooth enamel that is being warned is caused by mixing two acids in one drink, and not due to the formation of balsamic vinegar alone, as the more acidic the drink, the greater the risk of tooth erosion with repeated consumption.

Among the caveats advocated by researchers and dentists, is that once erosion occurs, there is no going back, leaving teeth more vulnerable to cavities and infection-causing bacteria. Erosion can also leave teeth looking misshapen.

Experiments Reveal Truths

The study authors set out to determine whether non-carbonated bottled water, flavored sparkling water, and regular sparkling water were causing tooth erosion. The team soaked a group of recently extracted human teeth in seven different sugar-free drinks (plus one sugary soda for comparison) for 24 hours as they believe that exposure for 24 continuous hours is equivalent to exposure to these drinks for a year.

Shocking Results

The acids in both sugary and sugar-free sodas eroded tooth enamel, concluding that the main cause of erosion was acid, not sweetener. It is also worth noting that erosion was also observed in teeth exposed to flavored sparkling water but to a lesser extent compared to sugary and sugar-free soda, while non-carbonated and unflavored bottled water caused no enamel erosion at all.

*The study authors acknowledge that the exact 'recipe' used in the TikTok video was not included in their research, they state that it is exactly the same as the sugar-free citrus drink in their experiment.

If you are a soft drinks lover, it is okay to enjoy them, but it is preferable to have them with meals and in moderate quantities so as not to damage your teeth.

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