Teenagers are all aware about the ability of carbonated drinks to eat through tooth enamel. It’s not a pretty picture. Here are some of your smile’s worst enemies and best friends.

The Enemies List

• Soda, fruit juice and sports drinks:

They are not only sugary but also acidic, and that creates a perfect home for the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.

• The realistic fix:Nobody’s saying you have to go cold turkey, but for all day swigging, choose water. Sipping through straws reduces the amount of time you teeth are exposed to a drink.• Sticky stuff:

We’re not just talking gooey caramel or fruit rolls. Bread, crackers, chips, sweet rolls, and other refined carbohydrates are nearly as likely as a chocolate to cling to teeth.

• The realistic fix:

Try to say no to sticky sweets and carbs when you can’t brush afterward. Alternatively, slosh some water around in your mouth.

Your Smile’s Best Friends• Cheese, please:

Eating a bit of cheese at the end of the meal helps protect teeth. The calcium in cheese helps harden teeth.

• Crunchy things:

Crisp apples, celery and carrots are natures little toothbrush alternatives. Their rough fibrous texture actually scrubs away as you chew.

• Have a cuppa:

Drinking tea after eating can help destroy the germs that cause cavities, gum disease and less than fresh breath. That goes for both green and black tea.

• Mushrooms:

These delicate, delicious flavor boosters contain lentinan, a plant substance that is anything but a light weight. It fights both tooth plaque and bacteria.