Food and drinks that harm your teeth, and smarter ways

You do not have to give up the foods you enjoy to protect your teeth. What matters most is what you eat, how often, and what you do afterwards.

Which foods and drinks cause decay?

Anything with sugar or refined starch feeds the bacteria in plaque, and they make acid that damages enamel. The common ones are:

• sweets, chocolates, biscuits and sticky sweets that cling to teeth
• sugary drinks, including fizzy drinks and packaged juices
• tea or coffee with sugar, especially when sipped slowly through the day
• refined starchy snacks that stay stuck between teeth

Which foods and drinks wear enamel?

Acid can soften enamel directly, without sugar. Fizzy drinks, sports and energy drinks, citrus fruit juices and vinegar-based foods are acidic. Having them once in a while with a meal is much less harmful than sipping them for hours.

How you have it matters

• Keep it to mealtimes. Saliva is produced more during meals and helps wash away acid. Constant snacking gives your teeth no break.
• Do not sip slowly. A drink finished in a short time is kinder to your teeth than one nursed over an hour.
• Rinse with water afterwards. It helps clear sugar and acid from your teeth.
• Wait before brushing after acidic food or drink. Enamel is softer just after acid, so waiting about half an hour before brushing is commonly advised.
• Use a straw for sugary or acidic cold drinks, so less of it washes over your teeth.

What is good for your teeth?

Water, plain milk and unsweetened tea or coffee are gentler options. Cheese and plain yoghurt are not sugary and can help. Fibre-rich fruit and vegetables encourage chewing and saliva. Whole fruit is a gentler choice than juice because the sugar is not concentrated.

What about children?

Children’s teeth are more vulnerable. Sweet drinks in a bottle, especially at bedtime, can cause decay in the front teeth. Keep sweets to mealtimes and water for the rest.

Food is only one part

Even with careful eating, plaque has to be removed. Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth once a day. See what causes tooth decay.

When to see a dentist

Come in if you notice chalky or dark spots, sensitivity or a hole in a tooth, or if you have not had a check-up in a long time. See also sensitive teeth.

Dental check-ups are available at both our clinics, in Sayan and on Chhaprabhatha-Variyav Road. Use the booking button below to ask for an appointment.