We all know that certain foods like candy are bad for our teeth, but have you ever wondered if the beverages you drink could be sabotaging your oral health?
Most people have heard about the dangers of drinking soda, but there are plenty of other popular drinks that can cause stains and cavities.
Keep reading to learn about 10 of the worst drinks for your teeth and what you can do to preserve your smile. While you learn about the drinks you should avoid, you can book a visit with us to identify the current source of distress on your teeth.
1. Soda
Why is soda bad for your teeth, exactly? As it turns out, soda works against your teeth in many different ways.
The worst part about soda is its high sugar content. The zippy feeling that you get in your mouth might be pleasant, but this sensation is caused by acids that eat away at your enamel, which is the protective barrier covering your teeth. In addition, darker sodas like cola contain food dyes that can stain your teeth darker.
2. Carbonated Water
How are carbonated drinks bad for your teeth if you’re drinking unsweetened water? While sugar is the main culprit for cavities, carbonation can also wreak havoc on your oral health even if the drink doesn’t contain any dyes or sugar.
When a drink gets carbonated, its pH level drops down to an acidic level that can become destructive. The mouth has an average pH reading of 6.7, whereas carbonated beverages can be as low as 3. Carbonation can also hinder your mouth’s ability to produce saliva, which is vital for neutralizing the pH and removing food particles between teeth.
3. Wine
Like soda and other carbonated beverages, wine also tends to have an acidic pH. Since acidic drinks and teeth don’t go well together, it’s important to be mindful of how often you indulge in this alcoholic beverage. In addition to the low pH, darker wines also contain higher concentrations of tannins, which is a natural food dye that can stain your teeth.
4. Coffee
Did you know that Canadians ranked within the top 3 countries that drink the most coffee around the world? It’s true that coffee helps plenty of people get ready in the morning, but drinking it too often can cause some dental issues.
If you drink your coffee black, your risk of staining is much higher. However, if you like to add cream and sugar to your drink, you’re more susceptible to tooth decay.
5. Sports Drinks
Sports drinks are often marketed as being a healthy option, but the truth is some brands can contain more sugar than soda.
Why is sugar bad for your teeth? Sugar leaves behind a film on your teeth that can take over half an hour to neutralize. Half an hour may not sound like a long time, but the bacteria in your mouth can feed on that sugar and convert it into tooth-decaying acids rapidly.
6. Sweet Tea
Iced tea can cause more damage to your teeth than coffee. This is because it commits the same crime of eroding the enamel and staining your teeth over time. Yet, tea has enormous health benefits, so it feels wrong to remove it altogether. It might be better to limit the daily intake and use sugar substitutes in its preparation.
7. Fruit Juice
When eaten as a whole, Fruit is wonderful for your overall health and teeth. We increase the acid intake in the juice form due to the amount of fruit we need to make a glass of juice, coupled with a dose of sugar. The fiber present in the fruit is missing at this point. You might as well be drinking soda.
8. Milk
Yes, it’s the same milk that contains calcium to make your teeth and bones stronger. It has a place in the best and worst drinks for your teeth. This is because of lactose in milk. Although called milk sugar, it is still sugar. We will recommend drinking milk and brushing at a 30 minutes interval.
9. Fruit Punch
Fruit punch is the worst if fruit juice is as bad as soda. There are only disadvantages associated with the drink and no benefits. First, you would rarely find real fruit in fruit punch. So, you don’t get any of the nutrients from fruit at all.
By contrast, there’s too much sugar or syrup in the punch. It’s a cavity minefield. The acid contained is also high in punch compared to fruit juice. Have 2 to 3 glasses a day frequently, and your enamel will begin eroding.
10. Energy Drinks
While beneficial in some regard with the vitamin, minerals, and sodium in them, energy drinks do contain caffeine. In combination with heaps of sugar, they are insistent on attacking your enamel. The ingredients in energy drinks can also be harmful to your body, making it harder to fight off the bacteria causing damage to your teeth.
What is the best drink for your teeth?
Water would easily win the spot as the best drink for your teeth. Milk also has added advantages. It has vitamins and calcium and has been known to prevent tooth decay. In addition, milk acts as a protective layer for your enamel. You should not let it linger on your teeth for too long.
If you have to drink alcohol, gin, root, and light beer are the safer choices. However, an alternative for water we don’t talk enough about is coconut water.
You feel refreshed, and it’s a natural anti-oxidant. It is also the perfect drink to replace sports and energy drinks. Calcium, magnesium, and potassium provide you with the same energy and power level as any sports drink. It is best if you can drink it straight out of a coconut. However, if you have to buy packed coconut water from the store, look for ones that have low sugar content.
While drinking sugary, acidic content, limiting contact with the drink by using a straw is good. For dark-colored beverages, you should brush your teeth beforehand. You should also drink water after any beverage, though don’t do it immediately following hot drinks.
Are you looking for a dentist in North Vancouver? If so, Smile Well Dental would love to take care of you. Contact us to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve the smile of your dreams.
