Fruit juice and fizzy drinks (even diet ones) are generally quite acidic. If your child drinks a lot of them, the acid can start to erode the surfaces of the enamel on their teeth. This is different from tooth decay, because it's the drink that attacks the teeth directly – rather than food sugars being turned into acids by plaque bacteria. This means acid erosion can attack the whole surface of the tooth at once, whereas decay tends to occur in the nooks and crannies of teeth where plaque is hardest to remove.
Acid erosion can lead to permanent damage to teeth. But there are some simple ways it can be avoided:
- Try to limit fizzy drinks and fruit juices to mealtimes, giving them milk or water in between.
- Drink using a straw that is directed to the back of the mouth. Reducing the drink’s contact with their teeth.
- Try not to let your child swish drinks around in their mouth.
- It's particularly important not to let you child have acidic or sweet drinks before bed-time, as the body's natural defence processes don't work as well when they are asleep. So only give your child water to drink before going to bed.
Learn more about taking your child to the dentist
[LINK TO ARTICLE: First Dentist Visit]