Drinks and Your Teeth

Drinks can harm teeth in two ways. Sugar feeds the bacteria in plaque, which make acid that causes tooth decay. Acid in the drink itself can soften and wear away enamel, the hard outer layer of the tooth; this is called dental erosion. Some drinks do both. For how decay and erosion work, and daily sugar limits, see sugar, acid and your teeth.

Water

The American Dental Association (ADA) says water helps wash away bacteria and weakens acids, and that water with fluoride strengthens teeth against decay. The Better Health Channel (Victoria) calls fluoridated tap water the best drink for oral health, and the Australian Dental Association prefers tap water because many Australian communities have fluoride added to it. Whether your tap water has fluoride depends on where you live: see water fluoridation.

Sparkling water. Delivering Better Oral Health, the UK government's evidence-based guidance for dental teams, says unflavoured still and sparkling water have the lowest erosive potential (the ability to wear enamel away): sparkling water is more acidic than still but fine for teeth as long as it is unflavoured. Carbonated water with fruit flavouring or lemon has high erosive potential. The ADA puts it more cautiously, saying that fizz raises the acid level of any drink.

Lemon in water. The Oral Health Foundation lists lemon water and hot water with lemon among acidic drinks, and the Better Health Channel advises avoiding adding lemon, lime or citrus to water.

Milk and plant-based drinks

The Oral Health Foundation (UK) names plain water and milk as the best drinks for teeth, and the Better Health Channel calls plain milk tooth-friendly. The ADA, the Oral Health Foundation and the Better Health Channel all suggest milk or cheese after something acidic, because dairy helps neutralise acid.

Flavoured milk is different: the ADA lists it among common sources of added sugar, and the NHS says flavoured milk contains sugar and can cause tooth decay.

Plant-based drinks (soya, oat, almond, coconut and others) can replace milk, but check the label. Delivering Better Oral Health says the sugars naturally present in dairy-alternative drinks such as soya, rice, oat and nut drinks count as free sugars (the kind that cause decay), and advises choosing unsweetened versions that are fortified with calcium. The NHS also says unsweetened, calcium-fortified dairy alternatives can make good alternatives to dairy. For children, the NHS says these can be given from age 1, but that children under 5 should not have rice drinks, because of their arsenic levels.

Fruit juice and smoothies

The NHS explains that juicing or blending fruit releases its sugars, which then count as free sugars and can damage teeth. The NHS advises limiting fruit juice and smoothies to 150ml a day in total, drunk with a meal. The Australian Dental Association suggests eating a piece of fruit and drinking water instead.

Juice is acidic as well: the Oral Health Foundation lists orange, apple and grapefruit juice and smoothies as acidic drinks. Delivering Better Oral Health notes that many "fruit drinks" are sugary solutions with the colour and flavour of fruit but little or no real juice.

Whole fruit is a different matter. Delivering Better Oral Health says most people should not be told to cut down on fruit, and that snacking on fruit should not be discouraged.

For children, the NHS says babies under 12 months do not need juice or smoothies (if given, dilute them 1 part to 10 parts water, at mealtimes), and that from age 5 children can have up to one 150ml glass a day with meals.

Fizzy drinks, squash and diet drinks

Sugary fizzy drinks cause both decay and erosion (Australian Dental Association). Switching to a diet or sugar-free version removes the sugar but not the acid. The Australian Dental Association says sugar-free soft drinks, energy drinks and sports drinks are acidic and can cause erosion if drunk regularly, and the Oral Health Foundation and the Better Health Channel both list diet and sugar-free fizzy drinks as acidic.

This can look contradictory. For general health, the NHS suggests swapping sugary drinks for diet, sugar-free or no-added-sugar versions. Dental bodies add that those swaps are still acidic, so water or milk is better for teeth. For young children, the NHS says diet and reduced-sugar drinks are not recommended, and that fizzy drinks should not be given to babies and young children because they are acidic.

The Oral Health Foundation suggests sugar-free squash, diluted as instructed, rather than sugary squash. The Better Health Channel lists cordials, vitamin waters and kombucha among acidic drinks.

Sports and energy drinks

The Australian Dental Association says that for weekend or social sport, water is the best drink, and sports drinks give little benefit at that level of activity. They expose teeth to sugar and acid, and can be more damaging if you drink them when you are dehydrated. It suggests checking labels for sugars (such as glucose or dextrose) and acids (such as citric acid). The Oral Health Foundation, healthdirect and the Better Health Channel all list energy drinks as acidic.

Tea and coffee

The Oral Health Foundation says tea and coffee are safe for teeth if you do not add sugar, though they can cause staining over time (see stained teeth). Delivering Better Oral Health lists tea and coffee among the drinks with the lowest erosive potential, and the Better Health Channel advises cutting down on sugar added to them.

Two cautions. Fruit teas are acidic: Delivering Better Oral Health says that drinking them hot makes them more erosive, and that swapping to another drink is better than just letting them cool. And the Better Health Channel says a lot of caffeine can reduce saliva, which protects teeth. The NHS says tea and coffee are not suitable for babies or young children.

For alcoholic drinks, see alcohol and oral health.

How you drink matters

• With meals, not between them. The Oral Health Foundation and Delivering Better Oral Health advise keeping sugary and acidic drinks to mealtimes.
• Do not sip for long periods. healthdirect says frequent sips of acidic drinks increase the time acid is in contact with your teeth, and the Oral Health Foundation warns against sipping sugary drinks throughout the day.
• Swallow; do not swish or hold. The Oral Health Foundation, the ADA and Delivering Better Oral Health all advise against holding drinks in your mouth or swishing them around.
• Rinse afterwards. healthdirect suggests rinsing with water after acid, and the ADA suggests water, milk or cheese.
• At bedtime, Delivering Better Oral Health advises avoiding sugary food and drinks, because saliva flow falls at night.
• Young children: the NHS says bottles and trainer cups should hold only breast milk, formula or water, and suggests an open or free-flow cup from around 6 months. See tooth decay in babies and toddlers.

Do straws help?

healthdirect, the Oral Health Foundation and the ADA all suggest a straw for acidic drinks, to limit contact with your teeth. Delivering Better Oral Health is more cautious. It says professional guidelines recommend a wide straw, with some weak evidence that pointing it towards the back of the mouth helps, but that there is not enough evidence to know whether straws actually reduce erosion, since any benefit depends on how people drink.

When should you brush after an acidic drink?

Patient advice is to wait, though the times differ: at least one hour (Oral Health Foundation, ADA) or at least 30 minutes (healthdirect, Better Health Channel). Delivering Better Oral Health, written for dental teams, says there is no strong evidence that the timing of toothbrushing is of great importance for tooth wear. What all agree on is brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. For more on acid wear, see tooth wear.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. Water, drinks and hydration, NHS, accessed September 2026
2. Sugar: the facts, NHS, accessed September 2026
3. Milk and dairy in your diet, NHS, accessed September 2026
4. Drinks and cups for babies and young children, NHS, accessed September 2026
5. Delivering better oral health, chapter 7: tooth wear, Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, accessed September 2026
6. Delivering better oral health, chapter 10: healthier eating, Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, accessed September 2026
7. Diet and healthy teeth, Oral Health Foundation, accessed September 2026
8. Dental erosion, Oral Health Foundation, accessed September 2026
9. Dental erosion, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
10. Dental erosion, Better Health Channel (Victoria), accessed September 2026
11. Teeth and mouth care, Better Health Channel (Victoria), accessed September 2026
12. Sugary drinks, Australian Dental Association, accessed September 2026
13. Sports drinks, Australian Dental Association, accessed September 2026
14. Diet and dental health, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026
15. Dietary acids and your teeth, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026

This article is general information about oral health. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a dentist or doctor who knows your situation. If you have pain, swelling, bleeding that does not settle, or a problem that is getting worse, see a dental professional. In an emergency, contact your local emergency service.

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