It’s no secret that soda is one of the worst things you can drink if you care about your teeth at all.

Here are some more fun facts: diet sodas are just as bad for your teeth as regular sugared brands, and within three minutes of drinking a cola beverage, the potential for dental erosion is 10 times that of fruit juices.

Non-cola beverages are less acidic than colas, they are loaded with citric acid. This is extremely corrosive to tooth enamel.

Are you thinking about becoming a full-time water drinker yet?

Researchers at Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine recently set out to discover just which of the various sodas are the worst for your teeth. Some info about the study:

Led by Poonam Jain, the researchers measured the acidity or pH level of 20 commercial soft drinks, including Coke, Pepsi, 7-Up and their diet versions, immediately after the cans were opened. Next, slices of enamel from freshly extracted human teeth were weighed before and after being immersed in the soft drinks for 48 hours.

Here’s the summation of what they found out: Coke, Pepsi, RC Cola, Squirt, Surge, 7-Up and Diet 7-Up lost more than 5 percent of their weight, while the remaining sodas created enamel weight losses ranging from 1.6 percent to 5 percent.

The sodas that caused the most damage were:

• Coke
• Cherry Coke
• RC Cola

If you absolutely must drink soda, the best thing you can do is limit your intake, and use a straw. The less actual contact with your teeth, the better off you will be.