'Soda addiction causes same kind of tooth damage as meth'

Drinking large amounts of soda could be as damaging to your teeth as taking meth or crack cocaine, says a disturbing new study.

Published in the March/April issue of General Dentistry, the study looked at the dental damage of three individuals: a meth user, a former crack addict, and an excessive diet soda drinker who consumed two liters a day for about five years.

Each participant admitted to having poor oral hygiene and not visiting a dentist on a regular basis.

The shocking result? All three displayed the same type and severity of damage from tooth erosion, equating dental decay due to the consumption of large amounts of diet soda to meth use.

"Each person experienced severe tooth erosion caused by the high acid levels present in their 'drug' of choice -- meth, crack, or soda," said lead author Mohamed A. Bassiouny in a statement.

“The citric acid present in both regular and diet soda is known to have a high potential for causing tooth erosion.”

Both meth and cocaine also contain extremely corrosive materials that are harmful to teeth. Ingredients used to prepare meth, for instance, can include battery acid, lantern fuel and drain cleaner.

Tooth erosion occurs when acid wears away tooth enamel -- the glossy, protective outside layer of the tooth.

Without enamel protection, teeth are more susceptible to developing cavities, cracks and discoloration and also become more sensitive.

"The striking similarities found in this study should be a wake-up call to consumers who think that soda -- even diet soda -- is not harmful to their oral health."

While the best alternative to soda is, unsurprisingly, water, those who’ve developed a dependence on the carbonated beverage are advised to either chew sugar-free gum or rinse the mouth out with water after drinking soda, both tricks to increase saliva flow and bring acidity levels to within normal range.

Meanwhile, another study published last year in the same journal found that sports and energy drinks can likewise cause irreparable damage to teeth, particularly among adolescents.