Counter-anecdote: I have drunk 1-2 Coke Zeros every day for years, enjoy it a lot, and have had excellent dental health.

Do you also frequently rinse your mouth? Oral hygiene will also determine dental health, not just soda consumed.

> I had perfect dental health all my life and needed multiple fillings after 18 months of soda.

Not an expert, but I'm not sure if that makes sense? As I understand it, soda causes dental problems because bacteria in your mouth eat sugar, creating an acidic environment that erodes the enamel on your teeth, making it possible for cavities to form. Since Coke Zero doesn't contain sugar, I don't see why it would be a problem.

I wonder if you normally had regular 6 month or 12 month dental checkups, where they would clean built-up tartar off your teeth, and these were put on hold during the pandemic?

Is that true for HFCS as well? Whenever I’m overseas and get real sugar sodas my teeth always feel much “fuzzier” by the end of the day. I never get that feeling with US corn-sweetened sodas.

Sodas also have acid in them directly, the first 3 ingredients in Coke Zero are: > CARBONATED WATER, CARAMEL COLOR, PHOSPHORIC ACID, …

https://us.coca-cola.com/products/coca-cola-zero-sugar/coca-...

phosphoric acid is particularly bad because it yanks all the free calcium in any solution it comes in contact with (e.g. saliva). Calcium phosphate is then insoluble in water, so it then larglely flows right through you.

It can upset the balance in your mouth. Carbonic acid from the carbonation attacks the enamel and may have other impacts.

Coke Zero contains phosphoric acid. It destroys tooth enamel. Might be connected or some other change of lifestyle during the pandemic.

I recommend sparkling water as an alternative to soda.