Sugar free drinks are OK for my teeth, right?

Hi Critters, Oswald here!

Earlier today I was at the lodge talking to some fellow beaver friends. We got talking about…get this…TEETH! You know us busy beavers, always on the go. Many are drinking loads of energy drinks, sports drinks, and fruit drinks with ZERO sugar! Sounds great, right!?

Drinks with zero sugar can actually be just as harmful to your teeth as drinks with sugar in it. Why is that? Although energy drinks can have low or no sugar in them, they are highly acidic. This means every time an energy drink is consumed, your mouth and teeth get an “acid bath.” Yuck!

The normal resting pH level in your mouth should lie at around 7. This is considered neutral. The closer the pH gets to 0, the more acidic it is. Energy drinks, regardless of sugar content, have a pH at about 2. Every time a sip of an energy drink is consumed, the pH level in your mouth drops. This leaves enamel susceptible to dental erosion and decay.

So, the next time you think about purchasing drinks that are branded with “Zero Sugar”, think twice about the actual acidity of the drink. Remember, marketing can be a powerful thing, but being educated and informed can help you keep those teeth for a lifetime!

Healthy drink choices:

• Water (always my number one recommendation!)
• Milk
• Tea (unsweetened)
• Sparkling Water

Stay Flossy,

-Oswald