What You Drink Affects Your Oral Health

Did you know that what you drink also impacts your oral health?  Some beverages can help support happy healthy teeth, while others can work against you.

What Drinks Can be Harmful to Your Teeth?

Citrus Beverages

• Contain high acid levels that are harmful to your tooth enamel
• Increases risk of tooth erosion
• Often have additional sugars added

Coffee/Espresso

• Stains the teeth
• Hot beverages open the pores of your teeth making them more vulnerable to damage
• High acidity levels increase bacteria and the risk of gum disease

Soda Pop

• Effects of high acidity levels are multiplied by high sugar levels
• Causes erosion of the tooth enamel

What Drinks can Promote Oral Health?

Water

• Rinses your mouth of food debris
• Tap water contains fluoride which reduces the risk of cavities
• Reduces the risk of dry mouth, which can increase tooth decay

Milk

• Contains calcium and phosphates that protect tooth enamel
• Reduces acid in the mouth, especially beneficial after eating acid-formingsugary goods
• A healthy alternative to sugary drinks

Green and Black Tea

• Contains polyphenols that attack harmful bacteria
• Can help reduce the risk of gum disease and cavities
• Is non-erosive, so it won’t encourage the demineralization that weakens enamel

How to Minimize the Damage of Harmful Drinks

Drinking harmful beverages in moderation is a great start but there are some other things you can do to reduce the potential damage they cause.  Here are some easy tips that you can follow:

• Drink the beverage in one sitting rather than sipping throughout the day
• After consumption, rinse your mouth with water
• Use a straw
• Brush your teeth after finishing the drink

Being aware of how beverages can help or harm your teeth will help you to make informed choices.  And although it’s unlikely that you will never drink coffee again, knowing how to mitigate the risks and to make better choices can help keep your mouth healthy.  If you have more questions about maintaining a healthy smile, contact us online or give Debbie a call at 440.354.0705.