Every time you eat or drink something containing sugar, mouth bacteria convert it into acid. This acid attacks enamel for 20-30 minutes after each intake. The more frequent the snacking, the more attacks per day.

German dental guidelines (DGZMK) emphasise: frequency of sugar consumption matters more than quantity. One slice of cake at lunch is less harmful than sucking on sweets all day.

Tooth-friendly foods

1

Hard cheese

Contains calcium and casein, stimulates saliva flow, neutralises acid. The ideal way to finish a meal.

2

Raw vegetables and leafy greens

Carrots, celery, broccoli require chewing, which stimulates saliva. Saliva is the mouth's natural defence.

3

Water and unsweetened tea

Water rinses food debris and maintains oral pH. Green and black tea contain fluorides and polyphenols that inhibit bacterial growth.

4

Dairy products

Milk, plain yoghurt, cottage cheese. Sources of calcium and phosphorus needed for enamel remineralisation.

What harms teeth the most

Sugary drinks

Cola, lemonade, fruit juice, sweetened coffee. Double damage: sugar feeds bacteria + acid attacks enamel. Sipping a sugary drink over an hour is worse than drinking it in one go.

Sticky sweets

Caramel, toffee, dried fruit, cereal bars. They cling to teeth and ensure prolonged sugar contact with enamel.

The three-break rule

Limit yourself to 3 main meals + no more than 2 snacks per day. Between them, drink only water. Each snack triggers a fresh 30-minute acid attack on enamel.