Sugar-free drinks may cause dental erosion, but there are simple ways you can help protect your teeth. As the Oral Health CRC reports, brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste helps limit the effect these beverages have on your oral health, but it is recommended to wait one hour before brushing. It takes 30 minutes to an hour for saliva to return the mouth to a neutral pH and brushing before this time can actually spread these acids.
The best time for drinking sugar-free drinks is with meals, whereas continuously sipping during the day will cause the most damage. Also, drinking through a straw can help minimize the acids' contact with your teeth.
After acidic meals or beverages, rinse your mouth with water, drink milk, or enjoy a little cheese. Dairy and other calcium-rich foods can help neutralize acids. It's also good to limit snacking between meals, so your saliva has time to rebalance its pH.
Cutting down on your sugar is a healthy choice to make, but it isn't guaranteed to protect your enamel. Be mindful of the acids in your drinks and take diligent care of your oral hygiene — and you should be on track for healthy teeth!