Reviewed by the DECMA clinical team · Last updated: Saturday, 7 November 2026
Every time you eat or drink something sugary, the bacteria in plaque turn the sugar into acid. That acid attacks the enamel on your teeth for about an hour. Saliva then slowly repairs the surface, but if sugar arrives again before it has finished, the damage builds up into decay.
How often matters more than how much
Having sweets once with a meal does less harm than sipping a sugary drink or snacking on sweets throughout the day. Each new sugar intake starts a new acid attack, and frequent attacks give your teeth no time to recover.
Simple habits that help
- Keep sugar to mealtimes. If you have sweets, desserts or sugary drinks, have them with a meal rather than between meals.
- Choose water or milk between meals. Soft drinks, energy drinks and juices are high in sugar and acid, even when they are labelled "natural".
- Watch out for hidden sugar. Tea and coffee with sugar, flavoured yoghurts, biscuits, sauces and cereals can add up through the day.
- Snack smart. Fruit, nuts, plain popcorn, cheese and vegetables are kinder to teeth than biscuits, cakes and sweets.
- Chew sugar-free gum after meals. It increases saliva, which helps neutralise acid.
- Don't brush straight after acidic drinks. Wait about an hour so the enamel can harden again.
For children
- Give babies and toddlers only milk or water in a bottle or cup, and never put a baby to bed with a sugary drink.
- Offer sweets as an occasional treat with meals, not as rewards through the day.
- Bring children for regular check-ups so early decay can be spotted and treated simply.
Signs of decay to look out for
White or brown spots on the teeth, sensitivity to sweet, hot or cold food, or a hole you can feel with your tongue are all reasons to book a check-up.