Many people will turn to “sugar-free” soda and candy to cut back on their sugar intake. Dr.K, a dentist in Malibu, explains why “sugar-free” options are not the best for your health.

When it comes to improving dental and overall health, limiting sugar consumption is crucial. But for many people, it’s difficult to give up their beloved sugary beverage, so they opt for sugar-free soft drinks and sports drinks.

Australian researchers revealed the flaw in the notion that sugar-free options are healthy. After testing twenty-three sugar-free and sugar-containing products, the researchers found that products with acidic additives and low levels of pH harm teeth, regardless of the sugar-free label.

“While reducing sugar intake reduces the risk of dental decay, some foods and drinks contain chemical mixtures of acid that can damage the condition of our teeth, as well as cause dental erosion,” Dr. K warns.

Dental erosion is the loss or weakening of tooth enamel due to chemical dissolution by acids. Surface layers of tooth enamel are stripped away in the early stages of tooth erosion.

Of the soft drinks and sports drinks they tested, the researchers found that most of the beverages softened dental enamel by thirty to fifty percent. Measurable losses of tooth surfaces were caused by sugar-containing and sugar-free drinks alike.

Six out of eight of the sports drinks tested caused loss of tooth enamel. The researchers also took a look at the effects of sugar-free candy and found that the ingredients in many sugar-free candies contain high levels of citric acid that causes tooth erosion.

When you find an item that proudly displays a “sugar-free” label, don’t be so quick to indulge. Although sugar-free snacks and beverages are presented as guilt-free treats, the effects they have on your teeth are the consequences.

To protect your teeth, check the labels of beverages and watch out for acidic additives (citric acid and phosphoric). Get into the habit of drinking more water throughout the day. If you do consume acidic beverages and snacks wait an hour before brushing your teeth. “Brushing immediately after the consumption of acidic products, can remove the softened enamel,” Dr. K says.

In addition to being mindful of what you eat and drink, visiting your dentist in Malibu is crucial to dental care.