All common sugars, including those in soft drinks, can contribute to the development of dental caries. In addition, frequent eating or drinking of acidic foods such as citrus juices, pickles and some soft drinks may contribute to the erosion of tooth enamel in some individuals. Comments like "a tooth placed in a glass of Coke will disappear" are misleading. The "tooth in Coke demonstration" in no way creates a real life situation. The teeth in your mouth are constantly bathed by saliva. When you drink a Coke, your teeth are exposed for only a short amount of time rather than sitting for days in a glass. Any acidic beverage, including orange juice, would produce similar results.

Globally, tooth decay has declined significantly over the last 20 years, even as soft drink consumption has increased, thanks to improved dental hygiene. The widespread use of fluoride in drinking water, toothpastes and mouthwashes has greatly improved dental health, making teeth more resistant to acid attack from plaque bacteria.

The 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines suggest you can reduce the incidence of dental caries by practicing good oral hygiene and consuming sugar- and starch-containing foods less frequently.

To maintain dental health, you should visit your dentist regularly and follow his or her recommendations for daily dental hygiene. If you have questions about soft drinks and dental caries, you should ask your dentist. For more information, visit the American Dental Association's website, http://www.ada.org/. For more information about dental health for children, visit the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, http://www.aapd.org/.