In 2024, diet soft drinks accounted for 74% of the soft drink market – a number that has risen since the introduction of the Sugar Tax in 2018.[i] Consumption of soft drinks is soaring, from fizzy sodas to energy drinks and isotonic sports drinks. One study found that fizzy sodas are the most addictive, with 40% of respondents drinking fizzy soda daily and 19% consuming more than one a day.[ii]
The common consensus is that diet versions of beverages are often seen as healthier alternatives to their sugar-sweetened original versions, providing a similar taste but without the cariogenic qualities. However, the risk to both oral and overall health is not just present with low or non-sugar-sweetened beverages – it can be even higher than the sugary original. For dental practitioners, being able to educate patients on the effects of diet drinks and how best to avoid them is essential to prolonging their oral and overall health.
Erode trip
The high sugar content of sugar-sweetened beverages can cause rapid spikes in blood glucose and insulin, promoting weight gain and contributing to liver fat accumulation.[iii] Artificially sweetened drinks have a different effect: they alter the gut microbiome. This disrupts feelings of fullness, drives sweet cravings and stimulates the secretion of insulin – those who consume low or non-sugar-sweetened beverages may be more likely to eat sugary snacks.iii The teeth and gingivae are then at-risk from oral disease.
Despite having a lower risk of causing tooth decay, beverages like diet sodas and 100% citrus fruit juices are still highly acidic and can cause the same amount of dental erosion as sugar-sweetened beverages. Citric acid and tartaric acid are two components of soft drinks, especially among fruit-flavoured beverages, that intensify the acidity – it is unsurprising then that diet drinks increase the odds of dental erosion.[iv]
Liver and let die
The health risks of frequent diet drink consumption are not just limited to the oral cavity. A recent study found an alarming link between low and non-sugar sweetened beverages and an increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) – a condition where fat builds up in the liver.[v] Gathering 103,000 participants, the study monitored the consumption of both sugar-sweetened and low or non-sugar-sweetened beverages, and used MRI data to consider each participant’s liver fat content. After 10 years, 949 participants had developed liver disease and 103 had died from liver-related causes – drinking more than one can of any soda on a daily basis is linked to liver problems.v
Whilst some may champion the lack of or lower sugar levels in diet beverages, the risk of liver complications is higher compared to drinking the sugary originals. Consumers who consistently have sugar-sweetened beverages have a 50% greater risk of developing NAFLD than if they did not, but those who opt for low or non-sugar-sweetened beverages have a 60% greater risk, as well as an increased risk of liver-related mortality.v
From liver to mouth
NAFLD does not usually cause any symptoms, and many are only diagnosed when they are having tests for something else. However, minor symptoms do include feeling tired, generally unwell, and pain or discomfort in the abdomen.[vi] For dental practitioners, the impact that liver disease can have on the oral cavity is of particular concern. Common side effects of the condition can see a depletion in iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid, which can compromise mucosal integrity and increase the risk of oral mucosal diseases.[vii]
Similarly, xerostomia is also common in patients with liver disease – left untreated this can leave the teeth and gingivae more predisposed to harmful bacteria.vii As such, diet beverages can increase the risk of oral diseases in the oral cavity, increase the risk of liver disease, and then further increase the risk of oral diseases.
Help your patients find the healthy
For at-risk patients, water is always recommended as an alternative drinking option because it is neither acidic or sugary. However, dental practitioners should not expect patients to go without sweetened or low/non-sweetened soft drinks – they can be a refreshing treat every now and then. Instead, whilst recommending straws can mean less contact between the drink and the teeth, the best thing dental practitioners can encourage is a consistent oral hygiene routine.
The Curaprox product range meets all patient needs to support optimal oral health, with the CS 5460 Ultra soft toothbrush designed for gentle but effective cleaning. Available in 36 appealing colours, it utilises 5,460 ultra-fine Curen® filaments to effectively remove plaque whilst being gentle on the gingivae. Featuring an octagonal handle and an optimised angled head, the CS 5460 is engineered to be an essential tool that keeps the teeth and gingivae healthy.
Low or non-sugar-sweetened beverages represent a difficult health challenge – they may be less cariogenic than the sugary originals, but are still erosive with the increased risk of causing liver disease. By recommending consistent dental care, dental practitioners can better protect patients who consume soft drinks on a daily basis.
To arrange a Practice Educational Meeting with your Curaden Development Manager please email us on sales@curaden.co.uk
For more information, please visit www.curaprox.co.uk and www.curaden.co.uk
Andrew Turner – Curaden UK Head of Marketing UK & Ireland
[i] Statista. (2024). Share of diet soft drinks 2024| Statista. [online] Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/620155/share-of-diet-soft-drinks-in-the-united-kingdom/?srsltid=AfmBOooS9ZdOe2UxuQez79mp2rO7SNeh6B5aZns0laQTJuDzKDIEvciX [Accessed 13 Oct. 2025].
[ii] Callingham, F. (2024). The UK city ‘so unhealthy’ one in every four locals are addicted to fizzy drinks. [online] Express.co.uk. Available at: https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1868319/uk-city-addicted-fizzy-drinks.
[iii] Zakir-Hussain, M. (2025). Liver disease warning issued over ingredients found in ‘diet’ drinks. [online] The Independent. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/diet-drinks-artificial-sweeteners-liver-disease-warning-ssbs-b2841445.html [Accessed 13 Oct. 2025].
[iv] Samman, M., Kaye, E., Cabral, H., Scott, T. and Sohn, W. (2021). Dental Erosion: Effect of Diet Drink Consumption on Permanent Dentition. JDR Clinical & Translational Research, p.238008442110484. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/23800844211048478.
[v] Freeborn, J. (2025). Both diet and regular sodas are linked to liver disease, new study finds. [online] Medicalnewstoday.com. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/diet-and-regular-sodas-are-linked-to-liver-disease#What-are-the-clinical-implications.
[vi] NHS (2022). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). [online] NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/non-alcoholic-fatty-liver-disease/.
[vii] Åberg, F. and Helenius-Hietala, J. (2022). Oral Health and Liver Disease: Bidirectional Associations—A Narrative Review. Dentistry Journal, 10(2), p.16. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/dj10020016.
