The drinks you consume will impact the health of your teeth, which is why it is important to be mindful of your beverage habits so that you can prevent dental problems. Certain beverages are worse than others and can discolour your teeth and depending on their level of acidity, can also soften your tooth enamel, making your teeth more sensitive and vulnerable to dental issues.
The following guide will shed some light on the damage that certain beverages present so that you’re aware and can make changes to better protect your teeth:
Soda
It’s common knowledge that soft drinks are harmful, however, many people do not realize just how damaging these drinks are when it comes to their teeth. Soda drinks contain both acid and sugar, which are the two worst things for your teeth. Additionally, some soda drinks contain a greater amount of sugar in one can than the amount that should be consumed in a full day. This is extremely damaging to both your oral and overall health and the acids will wear down your enamel and will negatively affect your teeth.
Juice
While some fruit juices are considered better than soda, the reality is that many of these juices contain just as much sugar as a can of pop and because most of them are concentrated, they’re likely going to expose your enamel to more acid than if you were to eat the fruit in its natural form. If you must have a glass of juice, try adding water to it so that you decrease the potential of damage from the acids.
Wine
Many people like to enjoy a glass of wine with their dinner and if that is the case, it’s better to drink red wine instead of white, which is much more acidic. White wine will damage your enamel more easily; however, red wine can discolour your teeth. Rinsing with water after you finish your glass is a great trick that can help reduce the amount of discolouration over time.
Sports drinks
Some advertisements claim these drinks are a great way of replacing minerals and vitamins that are lost during exercise, but it’s important to remember that some sports drinks contain a very high amount of sugar, many of which exceed the amount contained in some sodas. This can not only significantly harm your tooth enamel, but it can also cause you to gain weight because of the unhealthy number of calories that are in every one of these drinks.
Forest Hill Family Dental will ensure your teeth are always healthy. We can help with cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, dentures and much more, so if you’re in the Kitchener or Waterloo areas and want a reputable and experienced dentist, give us a call now!