The health of your teeth is extremely important. Everything you eat or drink can have an impact on your dental health. Many people do not realize the drinks they consume can cause oral health issues or damage over time. In fact, four of the most popular drinks in America could be leading to your oral health concerns without you even realizing it.
What You Eat and Drink Matters
Eating and drinking is something most people do without much thought. Although most everyone knows what they consume affects their overall health and weight, people often do not think much about what it is doing to their teeth. If you are drinking sugary drinks, it is important to see the Dentist ensure they are not causing damage.
4 Popular Drinks That Could Be Harming Your Dental Health
While there are many beverages on the market, there are four that should raise red flags when it comes to your dental health. While all of these are safe to drink on an occasional basis, they should not be a part of your everyday diet.
- Soda is one of the worst beverages a person can drink. The average soda can has at least seven teaspoons of sugar and they are acidic. When you consume a lot of sugar, it sits on your teeth and becomes acidic. Acids break down the enamel of the teeth and cause erosions that make the teeth vulnerable to decay. Regular soda consumption is one of the most common reasons for tooth decay.
- Fruit juice may seem like a healthy alternative to soda, but it is not. Yes, eating a piece of fruit is good for your body, but consuming fruit juice can cause decay. The average cup of orange juice has a whopping 21 grams of sugar so it is not much better than soda. Along with the threat of sugar, fruit juices are also acidic.
- Sports drinks are also a poor choice for your oral health. Many people are surprised to learn that they can even be worse for you than soda. One study linked an electrolyte drink to the wearing down of enamel. Just like soda, sports drinks are full of acid and sugar and both are damaging.
- While red wine can be helpful in moderation, white wine is particularly acidic. White wine tends to damage tooth enamel much faster than red wine. Enamel is the protective layer over your teeth and it helps to protect the sensitive inner tissues.
Water Is the Beverage of Choice
If you want to protect your oral health, water should be on the top of your list of beverages. It is especially beneficial if you consume fluoridated water. Water flushes foods from your teeth and helps to prevent acid formation. Since the biggest percentage of your body is water, it makes sense it should be consumed regularly.
Conclusion
If you do decide to drink one of the four beverages above, make sure to brush immediately after. If you cannot brush, rinsing your mouth with water can help to flush the sugar and acids from your teeth.
Drinking water is the best way to hydrate your body and protect your teeth. Regular visits to the dentist are also important so your teeth can be carefully cleaned and examined. With care from the dentist, you can rest assured your oral health will be protected.
About the Author
Hima Gandham
Guest Contributor
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