Because saliva helps neutralize acids and wash your teeth clean, the worst time to drink soda pop, ironically, is when you are very thirsty due to low levels of saliva. "The larger the volume of intake, the more impact soda pop has on your teeth," says Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson Gordon Isbell, III, DDS, MAGD. "Diet sodas are part of the problem. Women especially like to drink them throughout the day and between meals because they have no calories, yet the higher frequency and volume is putting their teeth at risk."

Try to drink soda pop only with a full meal, and be sure to brush and floss soon after drinking or eating. Also, resolve to quench your thirst with water, a healthier alternative to soft drinks and sports beverages. And if you drink pop alone or between meals, chew sugarless gum afterward to increase your saliva flow.

Reviewed: January 2012