Apple Cider Vinegar Drinks: Appetite and Your Teeth
A splash of apple cider vinegar in water is a popular before-meal habit. The appetite effect looks small and short-lived, and the acid can be hard on your teeth, so here is how to drink it sensibly if you choose to.
Apple cider vinegar has become one of the most talked-about kitchen remedies online. Many people stir a spoonful into water and drink it before meals, hoping it will take the edge off their appetite.
This guide looks honestly at what is known about vinegar and feeling full, why it is not a way to lose weight, and the part that often gets left out: vinegar is an acid, and acid wears down tooth enamel. If you enjoy the drink, you can make it gentler on your teeth and throat.
Why people drink it
The idea is simple. Supporters say a small amount of apple cider vinegar before a meal helps you feel satisfied sooner, so you eat a little less. Some also claim it burns calories.
Mayo Clinic is clear that apple cider vinegar is unlikely to cause weight loss, and experts have not found meaningful weight loss or long-term appetite control from it. Any change in weight depends on your overall eating and activity, not on a single drink.
Gentle Diluted Apple Cider Vinegar Drink
You need
- apple cider vinegar1 tablespoon (15 ml)
- cool or room-temperature water250 ml (1 cup)
- apple, optional, for flavor1 thin slice
Method
- Pour the water into a glass first, then add the vinegar and stir well. Never drink vinegar undiluted.
- Add the apple slice if you like.
- Drink it with or just before a meal, in one sitting, rather than sipping it slowly over a long time.
- Afterward, rinse your mouth with plain water. Wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth.
Tips
- Keep to one glass a day. Mayo Clinic notes that some studies consider up to two tablespoons a day acceptable.
- If you mainly enjoy the taste, use the vinegar in a salad dressing instead. It is easier on your teeth and throat.
What the evidence says
A 2022 systematic review looked at human studies of vinegar or its main acid, acetic acid, and appetite. In several short, one-off studies, vinegar taken with a solid meal seemed to reduce appetite for up to about two hours and slightly reduce how much people ate later that day.
The same review found that none of the longer studies, lasting four to twelve weeks, showed that appetite effect continuing. The authors concluded that the evidence supports only short-term effects and that more research is needed.
Mayo Clinic adds that many vinegar studies are small or have weaknesses in how they were done. So the fair summary is this: a vinegar drink may make some people feel a little fuller around one meal, but there is no good evidence it changes appetite over time.
Protecting your teeth and throat
Vinegar is highly acidic. Mayo Clinic notes that repeated exposure to acidic drinks can wear down tooth enamel, and that frequent or large amounts can irritate the throat. Cleveland Clinic lists acidic foods and drinks as a common cause of tooth erosion, which can show up as sensitivity, discoloration, small chips or pitting.
Cleveland Clinic suggests limiting acidic drinks, rinsing your mouth with water afterward, and waiting at least 30 minutes after eating or drinking before you brush, so saliva can wash the acid away first. Brushing straight away can damage softened enamel.
Mayo Clinic also notes that adding vinegar to food, rather than drinking it straight, may make side effects less likely. A vinegar and oil dressing on a salad is an easy way to enjoy it.
Questions people ask
Does apple cider vinegar help you lose weight?
The evidence does not support that. Mayo Clinic says it is unlikely to cause weight loss, and longer studies have not shown a lasting effect on appetite.
What is the best way to protect my teeth?
Always dilute it, drink it in one go with a meal, rinse with water afterward and wait at least 30 minutes before brushing. Using it in food instead is gentler still.
Is it safe to drink every day?
Most people can use small amounts safely. Mayo Clinic notes some studies consider up to two tablespoons a day acceptable for up to 12 weeks, but check with your doctor if you take medication.
Sources
- Apple cider vinegar for weight loss — Mayo Clinic
- The Effects of Vinegar/Acetic Acid Intake on Appetite Measures and Energy Consumption: A Systematic Literature Review — Current Developments in Nutrition (PMC)
- Tooth Erosion — Cleveland Clinic
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Herbs can interact with medicines and health conditions. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before trying a herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, giving it to a child, or taking any medication.
