If you’re opting to avoid acidic food and drink, whether for health reasons or personal preference, you might be stumped when it comes to beverage options — coffee, tea, juices, and alcohol are all acidic, according to the University of Pennsylvania.
Whether or not you can find a soft drink without acid depends on how you define "soft drink." Some people immediately think of carbonated beverages when they hear the term. Since the carbonation creates a weak acid, those drinks are by nature acidic, says Scripps Health in San Diego. Other people consider a soft drink any drink that doesn't have any "hard" liquor. Start by looking at water.
Water
The South Dakota Department of Health pulls no punches when it comes to soft drinks — which they define as soda. They warn that they have "little to no nutritional value" and suggest people should opt instead for water and milk. In particular, they recommend that parents should set a good example by cutting back on their soft drink consumption and giving kids a limited amount of the drinks. The health officials point out that water has "no sugar, no acid, no calories, and may contain fluoride — which actually makes teeth stronger."
Flavored Waters and Energy Drinks
If you broaden your definition of soft drinks to include beverages such as flavored waters, energy drinks, and juices, you may find some acid-free options, but you'll likely be getting extra sugar. Whether sugars are natural or added to the drink, they’ll feed bacteria that eat away at tooth enamel, says the University of Pennsylvania. The acid in drinks also helps erode tooth enamel.
They advise drinking most drinks through a straw, to lessen acid and sugar contact with your teeth and mouth. Also, they note that drinking carbonated beverages with food is a good idea, as the food can reduce the acidity of your mouth. Finally, they suggest drinking water immediately after beverages known to be hard on teeth, to rinse away acid and sugar.
Carbonated Drinks
Carbonated water is a key ingredient in fizzy soft drinks. It's formed when carbon dioxide gas reacts with water and becomes carbonic acid, says the American Chemical Society. Citric and phosphoric acids are also commonly found in carbonated soft drinks, according to Lakes Pediatric Dentistry in Commerce, Michigan. Citric acid is mostly used in citrus-flavored sodas, like Sprite, Crush, and Mountain Dew, while phosphoric acid is added to darker sodas like colas. Lakes Pediatric says phosphoric acid is more damaging to teeth than citric acid, though they also say there’s no “lesser evil” when it comes to soft drinks.
What’s more, phosphoric acid may also inhibit calcium absorption, according to Baton Rouge General in Louisiana. Studies have linked soda to low bone mineral density and fractures in adolescent girls and to low bone density in the hips of adult women, though more research is needed to determine if phosphoric acid is the cause. The study that found lower bone density in adult women who drank soda found that non-soda carbonated beverages weren’t connected with lower bone mineral density, however.
University of Chicago Medicine suggests that even though plain carbonated water contains carbonic acid, it’s unlikely to damage your teeth, since it doesn’t contain sugar or other acid additives. They also note that sparkling mineral water containing calcium and magnesium may actually be beneficial to bone health. Sparkling water can even support digestive health, and may increase feelings of fullness. They do warn, however, that people with acid reflux should avoid all carbonated beverages, even sparkling water.
