The sneaky offenders
Dried fruit, sticky muesli bars, citrus, sports drinks and constant grazing all keep teeth bathed in sugar or acid. Frequency matters more than quantity: sipping one juice over an hour is worse than drinking it in five minutes.
Smart swaps
Crunchy raw vegetables, cheese, plain yoghurt, nuts and water are enamel-friendly and several actively help. Cheese and milk neutralise acid; fibrous vegetables stimulate saliva, your mouth's natural rinse.
Timing beats willpower
If you are going to have something sweet or acidic, have it with a meal rather than alone between meals. The extra saliva from eating buffers the acid and clears sugar faster. Finish with water, not a brush, for thirty minutes.
