You chose to order a sugar-free cola instead of one full of sugar, and think this is a better choice for your teeth. Unfortunately, you are very mistaken. Artificial sweeteners can also cause tooth problems.

There are many reasons why people choose to hold back on the intake of sugar, and in most of these cases, artificial sweeteners seem to be the best alternative. As a result, you start using sugar-free gums, diet sodas, and artificially sweetened products available in every market.

Butdespite the common misunderstanding, this doesn’t do your teeth a favor. In fact, it is probably as bad for your smile as its sugary counterpart.

Sugar vs. Artificial Sweeteners

There is some logic behind replacing the first with the latter. There are certain types of bacteria that feed on the sugar you intake. These bacteria cause tooth decay and releases acids that are bad for the tooth’s enamel.

It works in the following way – the acids, bacteria, saliva and food debris make a combination – a bad plaque that will stick to the outer coating of the tooth. The acids within this combination will dissolve the surface and create cavities.

However, sugar substitutes seem to be doing the same type of damage to the tooth as sugar. Scientists from the University of Melbourne found that artificial sweeteners do as much damage to the tooth enamel as real sugar. According to their research, artificial sweeteners in beverages soften the enamel up to 50%.

It is the sad, sad truth for all with a sweet tooth – artificial sweeteners won’t protect your teeth from the damage you are trying to avoid by avoiding real sugar. The damage is caused by acid. Even though the artificial sweeteners won’t attract that bad oral bacteria, they still contain acidic ingredients.