system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Does eating artificial sweetener negatively affect your teeth just like sugar does?

For example, if I drink a can of Coke or diet Coke will my teeth be just as vulnerable to cavities either way?
gpt
There's multiple aspects to it.  At a fundamental level, all tooth decay from 'sugar' is actually caused by acid.  Sugar is metabolized by bacteria in the mouth, and the resultant metabolites lower the pH in the mouth.  But tooth decay can also be caused by directly putting acid into your mouth, and sodas (diet and otherwise) are loaded with acid.

Depending on the artificial sweetener, the bacteria in your mouth may or may not be able to metabolize it.  But all sodas will damage your teeth to an extent simply by being acidic.

If you want to drink soda, definitely drink diet.  Sugary sodas give bacteria fuel to pump out acids for hours after you drink them.  If the artificial sweetener in the soda you pick can't be metabolized by the bacteria, you only have to worry about the acid in the soda.  That would best be dealt with by washing your mouth out with water after you finish the soda to neutralize the acid.