Soft drinks, energy drinks and juice: protecting your enamel

Enamel is the hardest substance in the body, but acid can soften it. Cola, energy drinks, sports drinks and even fruit juice are acidic. When enamel is lost it does not grow back, so prevention matters.

Erosion and decay are different

Erosion is enamel dissolved directly by acid — teeth can look yellow, thin or glassy at the edges and feel sensitive. Decay happens when bacteria turn sugar into acid. Sugary acidic drinks do both.

Which drinks are hardest on teeth?

• Cola and other soft drinks — acidic and usually sugary.
• Energy drinks — often very acidic.
• Fruit juices and lemon water — acidic even without added sugar.
• Plain sparkling water is only mildly acidic and has no sugar.

How to drink them more safely

1. Have them with a meal rather than between meals.
2. Drink rather than sip slowly over a long time.
3. Use a straw and don’t swish the drink around your mouth.
4. Rinse with water afterwards.
5. Wait about 30 minutes before brushing — brushing softened enamel wears it away.
6. Choose water most of the day.

Children and teenagers

Young enamel is more easily damaged. Juice in a bottle or soft drinks every day are a common cause of cavities in children. See preventing cavities in children.

Signs you should get checked

Sensitivity to cold, front teeth that look shorter or see-through at the edges, or small dips on the chewing surfaces. The dentist can protect the teeth with fluoride or, when needed, tooth-coloured fillings.

Check your own habits in the sensitivity check or the tooth decay explorer.