Could Soda Pop Actually be Good for You?

Dec 16, 1999  By Chris Smith Though dentists generally frown on over-consumption of sweetened soda pop because the sugars they contain can contribute to tooth decay, a new study suggests soda may have some benefits for teeth. Researchers at the University of Iowa say that most soda pop contains enough fluoride to be considered a significant source of the tooth-rebuilding mineral. Writing in the recent issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association, the researchers examined 332 carbonated soft drinks purchased in the Iowa City area and found – on average – they contained significant amounts of fluoride. “Surveys indicate that children have increased their intake of carbonated beverages,” says Judy Heilman, lead author of the study. “If this trend continues, it could be that fluoride concentrations in soft drinks would become an increasingly important factor in total fluoride exposure.” The results of the study are ironic, because fluoride is filtered out of many bottled waters, which also are increasing in their popularity. Dentists still continue to recommend that patients drink sodas with a straw because in this fashion the soda bypasses teeth and goes directly to the back of the throat where it is swallowed.

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