While you may have switched to a sugar substitute to save your waistline, it is possible that it could be saving your teeth as well.
Sugar substitutes do not have the same effect on teeth enamel as sugar does. While sugar fuels the bacteria in plaque, creating acids that wear away at teeth, sugar substitutes lack that effect. In fact, some sweeteners contain polyols, which have antibacterial properties and do not feed bacteria.
Chewing gum with sugar substitutes such as xylitol has even been proven to help reduce cavities. Gum also helps stimulate saliva, which washes away food particles, and acids. Saliva effectively neutralizes the mouth so that acids cannot wear away at bacteria.
Try a sugar substitute in your coffee or tea to help ward off some of the damaging effects of sugar!