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Dentist’s surprise tip after drinking Diet Coke

A young woman has shared a bizarre hack to maintain her teeth health while drinking her favourite soda — and a dentist has backed it up.

Thursday, October 10 | Top stories | From the Newsroom

A young woman has shared a surprising hack to maintain her teeth health while drinking her favourite soda — and a dentist now weighed in.

Claudia Krek, who is a big fan of Diet Coke, said her dentist told her to stop drinking soft drink. When Ms Krek mentioned that wasn’t likely to happen, her dentist instead told her to “eat some cheese” after consuming the fizzy beverage.

“Apparently that helps neutralise the environment so your mouth isn’t overly acidic or something,” Ms Krek recalled.

“And she said if you’re out just chew on sugar free gum for 10 minutes after you have one. You’re also not meant to put anything in your mouth in four hour gaps.”

Claudia revealed some advice her dentist gave her – to eat cheese after drinking Diet Coke. Picture: @claudiakrek/TikTok
Claudia revealed some advice her dentist gave her – to eat cheese after drinking Diet Coke. Picture: @claudiakrek/TikTok

The young woman said she was going to start eating cheese after consuming her favourite cold drink, as her dental health was important to her.

Many social media users were shocked by the revelation.

“A Diet Coke AND a lil piece of cheese? I feel like I’ve just won the lottery,” one said.

Another said: “Dental student here! You can also rinse your mouth with water afterwards to help neutralise the acid too!”

“I told my dentist I absolutely would not stop drinking soft drinks and I was like but what if I drink it with a straw? And she said that helps. GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME,” one added.

Dr Ben Hargreave, from Dental Boutique, told news.com.au sugar free soft drinks can impact your dental health — but it’s better than regular soft drink.

“Diet Coke is acidic, which can weaken tooth enamel over time, making teeth more prone to sensitivity and decay,” Dr Hargreave said.

“Unlike regular soda, Diet Coke contains no sugar, which is a big win for your teeth since sugar is a major cause of cavities.”

However he did flag that soft drinks that contain caffeine do have the potential to cause dry mouth, and saliva is key for neutralising acids.

Most importantly, he also confirmed what Ms Krek was saying.

Sugar free gum was also suggested. Picture: news.com.au
Sugar free gum was also suggested. Picture: news.com.au

“Eating cheese after drinking Diet Coke can help protect your teeth,” he said.

“Cheese contains calcium and phosphate, which are the building blocks your teeth need to remineralise and repair enamel softened by acidic drinks.

“It also stimulates saliva production, which helps wash away acids and restore a healthy balance in your mouth.”

Other suggestions Dr Hargreave had were to use a straw, rinse your mouth out with water, wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth, drink quickly and stay hydrated.

He also suggested chewing sugar free gum and choosing drinks such as water, herbal tea or milk.

“The bottom line is while Diet Coke is a better choice than regular soda because it’s sugar-free, it’s still acidic and can affect your teeth,“ he said.

“By following these simple tips, you can enjoy your favourite fizzy drink while keeping your smile healthy and strong!”

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/diet/dentists-surprise-tip-after-drinking-diet-coke/news-story/5afd86dc0aae2a42c1262ae3759d8fe2