If you want to keep your smiling dazzling for all those Christmas photos this year, then you should refrain from eating sugar-free candy. While it seems like any food labeled “sugar-free” should be generally better than the regular sugary version, a new study out of Australia is proving just the opposite, according to Refinery29.
It turns out that sugar-free soft drinks and candy are just as bad for your teeth because of their chemical composition. When you eat sugary things, the bacteria in your mouth turns that sugar into acid, which erodes the enamel of your teeth. However, even sugar-free candy and soft drinks are highly acidic, so they still erode tooth enamel.
The study, done out of Melbourne University’s Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, found that while the sugar-free drinks and candy may not cause cavities directly, they can still cause a whole range of dental problems, including sensitivity. That does not sound fun.
So this finals week, stop yourself reaching for that sugar-free Red Bull and maybe opt for a nap instead. The hours in the dental chair are SO not worth it.