These foods provide a source of sugar for certain bacteria on the teeth to produce acid. The problem can be worse if the foods stick to or get caught between teeth. Fruit juices contain natural sugars that can also cause decay. Limit the amount of time you take to drink any of these drinks instead of sipping them throughout the day. A can a soda finished with a meal in 20 minutes is better than a can of soda finished in two hours because it will decrease the amount of time your teeth are exposed to high acid levels.
Water helps flush away food debris and can dilute the sugar acids.
Avoid sucking on hard candies or mints, even the tiny ones. They have enough sugar to increase the acid produced by bacteria to decay levels. If you need a mint, use the sugarless varieties. The effects of acid exposure add up, so every little bit counts. Since these are healthy foods, try to eat them as part of a meal or follow them with cheese, meat or milk.