According to oral health experts, sugar-free drinks are not tooth-friendly. Researchers at the Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre tested 23 varieties of sugar-free drinks, including soft and sports drinks, and found those that contain acidic additives and those with low pH levels cause measurable damage to tooth enamel.

“Many people are not aware that while reducing your sugar intake does reduce your risk of dental decay, the chemical mix of acids in some foods and drinks can cause the equally damaging condition of dental erosion,” commented Eric Reynolds, CEO of Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre.

Sugar is linked to tooth decay because it forms a plaque on the tooth surface that bacteria digest and convert to acid. It is the acid that attacks teeth by dissolving the outer layers of teeth enamel. Therefore, drinks that are acidic, whether they contain sugar or not can also erode teeth.

The study also found that both sugary and sugar-free soft beverages, including flavoured mineral waters, cause a measurable loss of tooth enamel, with no significant different between the two types of drink. Also, six of the eight sports drinks tested caused loss of dental enamel, the two that did not had higher calcium content.