There comes a moment most days at Standard HQ when the telltale hiss-and-crack of a can of Diet Coke opening will make the rest of the office pop their heads above their screens, like parched meerkats scanning the savannah for a drink.
Eyes will dart back and forth in silent communication until one brave soul murmurs an exploratory “Should we?”. Before you know it, the canteen vending machine has been ransacked of every DC it holds.
Afternoon thirst for fizz is so ubiquitous that Coca-Cola successfully captured the mood in its Diet Coke Break ad campaign, which ran from 1994 to 2013. Sexier than a cup of tea, the can of pop offers a hit of sweetness needed to steer through the rest of the day. Plus, the omission of sugar makes it feel like the lesser of many available evils (the most heinous being a can of Monster).
It may be sugar-free but that doesn’t mean it’s the best option - especially not as far as your chops are concerned. We’ve known since the Tooth Fairy paid us her first visit that sugar is bad news for tooth enamel, but with so many carbonated zero-sugar options on the shelves these days, should all fizzy drinks be tarred with the same brush?
We spoke to L.A.-based cosmetic dentist Dr. Jon Marashi to get the lowdown.
Why are fizzy drinks bad for teeth?
“Fizzy drinks that contain sugar are bad for your teeth as they can cause chemical erosion of the tooth enamel. The sugar combines with the bacteria in your mouth and becomes acidic. Beverages that contain citrus are also more acidic.”
Is sugar the problem or does carbonation play a role too?
“The larger problem is the sugar. If you’re looking for an alternative to soda, a better option is drinking unflavored carbonated water or carbonated water that is low in sugar. However, anything with carbonation is also acidic, with a pH of 3 or 4. The best option overall is to drink simple filtered water.”
What's the best way to drink fizzy drinks to safeguard tooth enamel?
“It’s best to consume a fizzy drink in one sitting instead of consuming multiple throughout the day. Also, brush your teeth immediately after a fizzy drink.
Brushing your teeth after you drink something with carbonation removes the film layer on the teeth and toothpaste helps neutralize the acidity.”
Can fizzy drinks be healthy?
“With regards to the health of your teeth, not necessarily, but again, it’s a safer bet to opt for carbonated beverages that are low in sugar.”
When is better to drink them - before, during or after a meal?
“The order doesn’t matter from a dental standpoint as long as you brush your teeth after you've consumed them.”
So two big takeaways. One, start carrying around a travel toothbrush and toothpaste for post-lunch or snack cleaning. Two? Fizzy drinks are bad but if you’re going to indulge, ones without sugar are better.
For the occasional treat when only sparkling will hit the spot, we’ve rounded up the best fizzy drinks that, on the scale of things, aren’t too bad for you.
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DASH Water Mixed Pack x 16
Flavoured with surplus fruit, Dash has made getting your daily glug of H2O sexy again. There are eight flavours to choose from but if you've never tried Dash before, a variety pack is perfect to get yourself familiarised. Each 330ml can is free from sugar, sweeteners and additives, making them practically guilt-free.
Buy now £20.89, Amazon
XOXO Red Berries Prebiotic Sparkling Soda
With its statement packaging, this fizzy drink doesn't look like it could be healthy, but that's all part of its game plan. With a brand name serving pure Gossip Girl, XOXO's offering is a natural plant-based prebiotic recipe, heightened with red berry flavour.
Oh, and it comes in a fridge-friendly pack of a dozen so you'll always have a perfectly chilled one to hand.
Buy now £22.99, Amazon
Liquid Death Sparkling Water, Mango Chainsaw
If the packaging doesn't tickle you from the off, the names of its flavours will. Liquid Death, designed to look like beer but containing angelic sparkling or plain water, has been a hit this summer - we've seen it clutched in the hands of more festivalgoers than we can count. Alongside its still mountain water range, it offers a flavour-infused line-up too.
Mango Chainsaw is our pick, and with around four calories per 500ml can, there's no guilt about 'murdering your thirst'.
Buy now £13.27, Amazon
Dr. Funk Peach & Jasmine Sparkling Flavoured Water
Feel fragrant and light with a can of Dr Funk's flavoured water in your hand. The delicate carbonated combo is fortified with vitamins galore, from calcium to vitamins C, D3, B6, B12 and other good stuff. It also serves well as a light mixer if you're looking for something healthier come happy hour.
The price listed is for a pack of four.
Buy now £4.27, Amazon
San Pellegrino Essenza Sparkling Water Cherry & Pomegranate
Sparkling water fans need no introduction to San Pellegrino's green bottles, but did you know it offers flavoured tins too? Choose from tangerine and strawberry, and cherry and pomegranate, our favourite. Bursting with juicy flavour, the lightly flavoured drink imparts the taste of the fruit without any cloying sweetness.
Buy now £16.56, Amazon
AQUA Libra Raspberry and Blackcurrant
Give plain old water an upgrade with Aqua Libra. Its sparkling canned water comes injected with lots of juicy flavour combos, from blood orange and mango to cucumber, mint and lime. If you're after a guilt-free treat, our money's on the raspberry and blackcurrant. The sugar-free drink is best served chilled and is every sip as refreshing as a DC.
Buy now £18.09, Amazon
eauYES Sparkling Mineral Water Mixed Pack (12 x 330ml)
Looking to shake up your flavoured water combinations? eauYES packs its collection into this mixed box, meaning you can try each one before picking your favourite. The menu includes pineapple and coconut, orange blossom, lemon, pink grapefruit, sour apple, and raspberry and lime.
Each tin is free of nasties like artificial sweeteners, preservatives and sugar. With 12 cans, you'll have around two weeks of lunchtime drinks to see if eauYES gets your vote.
Buy now £17.99, Amazon
Punchy Everyday Hydration Mango - 12 x 330ml
This wellness blend from Punchy is packed with essential minerals, electrolytes and vitamins C and D to boost your immunity and keep your muscles in perfect working order. The Mango flavour is juicy, fruity and mouthwatering.
Buy now £21.95, Amazon
Agua de Madre Water Kefir Bottles
As the original cultured beverage – a fermented water kefir packed with billions of live cultures that are great for your gut – it would be remiss not to include Agua de Madre, the female-founded brand from Mexico. It’s sparkling and low in sugar while the Pomegranate & Hibiscus flavour will have you saying ‘adios’ to sugary fizzy drinks forever.
Price for 12.
Buy now £45.90, Agua de Madre
Sweet Freedom Fizz Mango & Mandarin Sparkling Water
Featuring a first-to-the-UK-market natural sweetener in the form of cocoa juice, Sweet Freedom Fizz can be served straight-up or mixed into a mocktail, its range comprising four flavours for different benefits. Try Mango & Mandarin which promises Zen thanks to schisandra berry to support your nervous system.
Buy now £17.17, Amazon
Selfish Sparkling Prebiotic Drink Apple & Raspberry
Each can of the prebiotic drink Selfish contains real fruit juice and 5.2g of fibre to support your gut health, and all under 80 calories. A guilt-free and gut-friendly way to satisfy that sweet craving this summer without reaching for sugary pop.
£13.57 for 12 cans.
Buy now £13.57, MyProtein
FHIRST Cherry Vanilla
Got a taste for the nostalgic? You’ll love Cherry Vanilla from FHIRST – a probiotic and prebiotic living gut soda with no sugar or sweeteners – which tastes exactly like the childhood favourite but with none of the nasties. Over two billion stable living probiotic cultures are contained within a single can for enhanced gut health and overall well-being. Zero sugar seals the deal.
Price for 12.
Buy now £20.52, Amazon
Living Things Raspberry & Pomegranate
From clear skin to good sleep, there are myriad benefits linked to gut health, which is why the prebiotic sodas from Living Things can only be a good thing. Each can is teeming with two billion live cultures to help with your gut health while being high in fibre and low in calories.
Buy now £21.59, Amazon
Hip Pop Ginger Turmeric Gut Lovin’ Soda 24 x 330ml cans
This lightly sparkling soda is infused with fibre, apple cider vinegar, ginger, black pepper, turmeric and live cultures for a concoction that tastes good and supports your gut health. Better still, it’s low-calorie, contains absolutely no sweeteners, and is gluten-free plus 100 per cent natural. A spicy and aromatic staple for your fridge.
Buy now £29.99, Amazon
OHMG Magnesium drink
Magnesium is ideal for muscle recovery and promotes relaxation - so these canned sparkling water drinks with added ionic magnesium are perfect to sip on post-workout.
The drink, which comes in four flavours including peach rosemary and raspberry lemon balm, contains three different types of magnesium and also helps to promote sleep. If you’re worried about the calories, they all have zero calories and zero sugars - so you can knock them back after a HIIT class, stress-free.
Buy now £33.04, Amazon
INTUNE Elderflower Sparkling CBD Drink
INTUNE's award-winning drinks are sourced from premium CBD and offer a grounding, focusing effect when that post-lunch slump hits.
The drink marries 10mg of CBD with a sparkling elderflower accent, but there are many more flavours to choose from. An alcohol-free alternative to a classic spritz, the tipple is suitable for vegans and makes for a sophisticated cocktail mixer.
Price for four cans. Also available in a mixed variety pack on Amazon.
Buy now £6.25, Ocado
