Are Sugar-Free Drinks Safe for Your Teeth?

Do you opt for sugar-free drinks? If you decided to reduce your sugar intake, that’s good. Your oral health will benefit from this practice. However, a recent study shows sugar substitutes are not completely safe for our teeth.

Sugar-Free Drinks Not 100% Tooth-Friendly

Professor Eric Reynolds, Head of the Oral Biology Research Group at the University of Melbourne, along with his research team found that sugar-free products can cause damage to teeth.

Of course, lower sugar content can help reduce the risk of tooth decay. But these products contain high levels of acids that strip the tooth enamel of minerals, causing tooth erosion. Ideally, you want to avoid both dental issues--decay and erosion. Both conditions, left to advance, will result in the layer beneath the enamel called the dentin to become exposed. This will cause tooth sensitivity and pain.

Reynolds and his team tested a variety of soft drinks and sports drinks in their research. Fifteen soft drinks, including three brands that are sugar-free, were applied on extracted healthy and cavity-free human molars. After the test, researchers found significant enamel erosion--equally damaging whether from regular or sugar-free soft drinks. Six of the eight sports drinks tested caused significant softening and wearing of enamel. The other two sports drinks, interestingly, had higher calcium content.

Minimize the Risk of Dental Erosion

How can we protect our teeth from erosion?

• Reduce consumption of sugared and sugar-free products. Being mindful of our food and drink choices, we can protect our teeth from acid attacks.
• Hydrate with water. Fluoridated tap water meets your needs for a sugar- and calorie-free option. It’s the best choice for hydration and oral health.
• Use fluoridated toothpaste and mouthwash. While fluoride content in over-the-counter items such as toothpaste and mouthwash are low, they help keep the tooth surface strong. Look for dental care products containing fluoride when shopping.
• Chew sugarless gum. This boosts salivary flow in your mouth. An added benefit is it helps fight decay-causing bacteria.
• Avoid brushing your teeth for 60 minutes after consuming acidic products. Brushing can cause more damage to the softened tooth layer. Drink or rinse with water until the one-hour wait is done.

Finally, don’t forget to routinely visit your dentist. When was the last time you did?