Do you find yourself consuming soft drinks or energy drinks, juices, flavoured water or other acidic drinks throughout the day? Or do you perhaps have a habit of snacking on foods that are also acidic?
You might have heard that consuming acidic beverages and foods may cause tooth erosion, or chemical wear, over time. Erosion occurs when the acid in your food or drink causes some of the enamel (outer, protective layer) on your teeth to dissolve, leaving the surface of your teeth softer and vulnerable to mechanical wear.
Unfortunately, once your enamel is gone you can’t replace it, but the good news is you can prevent erosion from happening in the first place.
Why not choose water when you are thirsty?
Even if you’re still just a student, it’s a good idea to stop to think about your consumption of acidic foods and drinks. Do you tend to go for energy drinks or soft drinks while working on your assignments, without even paying much attention to it?
Next you might want to think about whether you could replace some of these acidic beverages with drinks that aren’t as hard on your teeth. When you’re feeling thirsty, plain tap water is an excellent choice. You can also have some tea or coffee in moderation, even on a daily basis, as long as you don’t add sugar.
But keep in mind that just because a drink doesn’t contain sugar, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good for your teeth. Even sugar-free soft drinks can cause dental erosion.
How to protect your teeth against erosion
To avoid loss of enamel on your teeth, try to cut down on acidic foods and drinks. If, however, such products are a part of your daily routine that you can’t get rid of, it’s recommended that you have them with your meals. What’s most harmful for your teeth is continuously consuming acidic foods or beverages throughout the day.
To best protect your teeth:
- Drink water when you’re thirsty and avoid acidic drinks.
- Eat 3–6 times a day and avoid snacking.
- If you consume acidic foods or drinks, do so with meals.
- Brush your teeth twice a day using fluoride toothpaste.
Preventing erosion will be the theme of our campaign week
Week 7 (from 9 to 13 Feb 2026) will be the FSHS’s oral health-themed week called “How is your mouth?”. The themes vary yearly, and this year we’ll be talking about how to prevent tooth erosion.
The How is your mouth? theme week will be highlighted on FSHS digital channels. In some locations, FSHS staff will be advertising the theme on campuses or in our service unit lobbies.
For more information about tooth erosion
Read more about tooth erosion in the “Health information” section of our website.