Teen science wiz reveals how Mountain Dew dissolves your teeth quicker than Coca Cola

August 31, 2016  13:16

When you need a sugary pick-me-up, you may not always think about your teeth. 

But that may change after this video.

Teen science wiz Chase Wiley put one of his sister's molars in a cup of Coca Cola, and another in his favorite beverage: Mountain Dew.

Both emerge depleted, stained, and rotten.

If you had to pick one of the two, however, he concludes that Mountain Dew is twice as worse for your teeth than Coca Cola. 

WHAT HAPPENED

In his video for science blogger Tom Scott, Chase weighed each of his sister's teeth. 

He then placed one in each drink.

When he took them out he found the one in Mountain Dew had decayed much more than the one in Coca Cola.

The Coca Cola tooth lost 0.06g in weight - dropping from 0.86g to 0.80g.

That means it lost seven per cent of its mass.

The Mountain Dew tooth lost 0.13g - weighing 0.94g before and 0.81g after - meaning it lost 14 per cent of its mass.

WHAT'S IN THEM? 

Judging by the numbers on the packet, Chase's result may be surprising. 

As he explains, Coca Cola is six times more acidic than Mountain Dew. 

The former has a pH level of 2.5, while the latter has a pH level of 3.1. 

However, there is a crucial detail that many of us would skim past: Mountain Dew has a higher TA (titratable acidity) than Coca Cola.

Therefore, while Coca Cola is more acidic, Mountain Dew has more acid.

In layman's terms, Chase explains: 'This means that it takes longer for the saliva in your mouth to dilute the acid than it would with other cola drinks.'

 ORGANIC NOT ALWAYS BEST

Mountain Dew contains citric acid, which is an organic acid.

Meanwhile Coca Cola - and other cola beverages - contains non-organic phosphoric acid. 

Though phosphoric acid is often stronger, citric acid more quickly damages enamel.

'This ultimately means that Mountain Dew is worse for your teeth than Coca Cola, even though Coca Cola is way more acidic,' Chase concludes. 

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter


 
  • Video
 
 
  • Event calendar
 
 
  • Archive
 
  • Most read
 
  • Find us on Facebook
 
  • Poll
Are you aware that in 2027 medical insurance will become mandatory for all Armenian citizens?
I’m aware, and I'm in favor
I’m not aware, and I'm against
I'm aware, but I'm still undecided
I'm not aware, but in principle I'm in favor
I'm not aware, but in principle I'm against
It doesn't matter to me