Reply to: Pepsi Max addiction

[GJABS]

Stop using it NOW - it's terrible tulip, especially the "Diet" one

What is in it that makes it terrible? I am not disagreeing, as I have heard others say the same, but have not been able to find any details.

[GJABS]

Cola contains loads of phosphoric acid. Sodiumbicarbonate would bring the pH a bit up, sodium hydroxide pallets would be better,you need less of it but you have to be more careful to handle it.

pH meters are generally available, You need to regularly calibrate pH meters though. litmus paper would be much easier and cheaper to use

Yes I've been having a play with some litmus paper (universal indicator paper) from my schooldays chemistry set, and it gives a reading of ph=6 for the Pepsi Max, which I think is a little high - it says online that the Ph of diet coke is 3.
First I have tried putting a rennie tablet (containing Calcium Carbonate) into it (Ph of around 8 or so), but it does not seem to be dissolving, and must therefore only be effective against stronger acids. Calcium Phosphate is also fairly insoluble so would precipitate out.
I don't think there would be much difference between Sodium Hydroxide and Sodium bicarbonate because in the latter case carbon dioxide gas would be produced, which would escape, leaving Sodium Phosphate which is slightly alkali. In the case of Sodium Hydroxide only water would be produced by the same reaction.
I do have some Sodium Hydroxide somewhere in the garage, left over from a time in 1985 when I tried to do electrolysis on it molten (it has a fairly low melting point as compared to salt), in a bid to create metallic sodium. I blew the fuse in the DC power source unfortunately. But I digress..

[Eirikur]

3. The PH of diet coke is around 3. Could I add Sodium bicarbonate to neutralise this back to 7, and would this stop it rotting my teeth, and could I do this without making it taste disgusting? Can I buy a ph meter to determine this?

Cola contains loads of phosphoric acid. Sodiumbicarbonate would bring the pH a bit up, sodium hydroxide pallets would be better,you need less of it but you have to be more careful to handle it.

pH meters are generally available, You need to regularly calibrate pH meters though. litmus paper would be much easier and cheaper to use

[Mordac]

And its effect on one's teeth.

I've just come back from the dentist, and I need to have four fillings and a molar tooth out

She says I need to ditch the Pepsi Max, of which I down around 5 cans a day, because although they are sugar free, the acid in them is eroding my teeth and causing decay.

The problem is I have tried to cut down in the past, but I feel I am addicted to them. So I need a plan, and I have the following thoughts, which I thought I'd share with you lot in case you had any sarcastic comments


1. Addiction is probably caused by the caffeine, of which there is 42.6mg in each can. I plan to purchase some Pro Plus caffeine tablets initially (each one contains 50mg) to take instead of the drink, so that I can stop drinking the coke immediately without getting caffeine withdrawal.

2. Other psychological "highs" from it include the sweetener, cold, and carbonation - I could try replicating this with cold mineral water, a soda stream, and some sweetener.

3. The PH of diet coke is around 3. Could I add Sodium bicarbonate to neutralise this back to 7, and would this stop it rotting my teeth, and could I do this without making it taste disgusting? Can I buy a ph meter to determine this?

4. Apparently the artificial sweetener Xylitol is alkali. Could I add this to pepsi max to neutralise its acids (mainly phosphoric acid) without destroying its taste.

5. You can get dental fissure sealants to cover the cracks in the teeth to prevent them from eroding. But can you also get a kind of dental paint that can be painted on top of the rest of the surface of the teeth to protect them? Or can you fire microscopic fragments of zinc into the surface to protect them in the same way that galvanization protects steel from erosion?
At school someone put tippex onto their teeth to make them look good, but apparently this was not a good idea...

Stick to beer, idiot...

[AtW]

Stop using it NOW - it's terrible tulip, especially the "Diet" one

[Zigenare]

Maybe. I'm not sure how effective use of a straw is in terms of keeping the offending liquid away from the teeth.


Or was this a "straw man" statement?

Maybe you should just stop drinking the stuff.

[Hobosapien]

Shotgun it.

Shake the can first if you really want it 'expresso'.

[GJABS]

Straw

Maybe. I'm not sure how effective use of a straw is in terms of keeping the offending liquid away from the teeth.


Or was this a "straw man" statement?

[Anonimouse]

Straw

[Benny]

So I need a plan..

Go straight to dentures & save a fortune on dental fees over the years, and as a bonus allowing you to carry on your additiction.... sorted HTH

[greenlake]

I've just come back from the dentist, and I need to have four fillings and a molar tooth out

She says I need to ditch the Pepsi Max, of which I down around 5 cans a day, because although they are sugar free, the acid in them is eroding my teeth and causing decay.

No need to cut back. Just bypass your teeth....

[Scruff]

Are you Shane McGowan?

Quick exit...

[GJABS]

Just snort this stuff instead....

Caffeine in Black Label Brewed Coffee

"Caffeine level: Dangerous". I like it

[GJABS]

I've a feeling your teeth aren't the only things you'll be having problems with in time...

You mean the aspartame in it, which some people think is bad for you?

[SimonMac]

And its effect on one's teeth.

I've just come back from the dentist, and I need to have four fillings and a molar tooth out

She says I need to ditch the Pepsi Max, of which I down around 5 cans a day, because although they are sugar free, the acid in them is eroding my teeth and causing decay.

The problem is I have tried to cut down in the past, but I feel I am addicted to them. So I need a plan, and I have the following thoughts, which I thought I'd share with you lot in case you had any sarcastic comments


1. Addiction is probably caused by the caffeine, of which there is 42.6mg in each can. I plan to purchase some Pro Plus caffeine tablets initially (each one contains 50mg) to take instead of the drink, so that I can stop drinking the coke immediately without getting caffeine withdrawal.

2. Other psychological "highs" from it include the sweetener, cold, and carbonation - I could try replicating this with cold mineral water, a soda stream, and some sweetener.

3. The PH of diet coke is around 3. Could I add Sodium bicarbonate to neutralise this back to 7, and would this stop it rotting my teeth, and could I do this without making it taste disgusting? Can I buy a ph meter to determine this?

4. Apparently the artificial sweetener Xylitol is alkali. Could I add this to pepsi max to neutralise its acids (mainly phosphoric acid) without destroying its taste.

5. You can get dental fissure sealants to cover the cracks in the teeth to prevent them from eroding. But can you also get a kind of dental paint that can be painted on top of the rest of the surface of the teeth to protect them? Or can you fire microscopic fragments of zinc into the surface to protect them in the same way that galvanization protects steel from erosion?
At school someone put tippex onto their teeth to make them look good, but apparently this was not a good idea...

Just snort this stuff instead....

Caffeine in Black Label Brewed Coffee