Sugar-free drinks can still cause damage. Here, tips for preventing erosion of tooth enamel.
Sugar-free candy and soda may seem like healthier alternatives when your children ask for a Coke, MoonPie, or other sugar-laden foods and drinks. However, research shows that sugar-free items can cause their own health problems: They can damage tooth enamel. Enamel is the hard, protective outer layer of the teeth.
Researchers tested 23 types of soda and sports drinks and found “drinks that contain acidic additives and with low pH levels cause measurable damage to dental enamel, even if the drink is sugar-free.”
Effect of sugar-free drinks on tooth enamel
- The majority of soft drinks and sports drinks caused softening of dental enamel by 30 to 50 percent.
- Both sugar-containing and sugar-free soft drinks (including flavored mineral waters) produced measurable loss of the tooth surface, with no significant difference between the two groups of drinks.
- Of eight sports drinks tested, all but two (those with higher calcium content) were found to cause loss of dental enamel.
It’s important to remember “sugar-free” does not necessarily mean healthy or safe for teeth. Check ingredients for acidic additives such as citric acid and phosphoric acid.
How to prevent tooth erosion
To help prevent tooth erosion, the Academy of General Dentistry and American Dental Association advise the following tips:
- Avoid drinking carbonated beverages and sports and energy drinks
- Limit consumption of pure fruit juice.
- If you’re drinking an acidic beverage, drink it quickly with a straw. Rinse your mouth with water to neutralize the acids. Wait an hour before brushing your teeth, to avoid a combination of acidic exposure and abrasion to your teeth.
- Brush with a soft toothbrush, using fluoride toothpaste.
- Don’t give a child juice or acidic drinks in a sippy cup or bottle.
