When it comes to maintaining healthy teeth, the food that you eat often gets most of the attention. However, it is also important to consider what you are drinking. Water is the healthiest option for strong teeth, and certain drinks can cause damage to your enamel.
Fruit juice is naturally high in sugar, but certain juices are also highly acidic. This is especially true of orange, grapefruit, and other citrus juices. These acids can lead to acid erosion of the enamel, and too much can lead to long-term oral health problems.
Soda is also a big problem when it comes to the enamel, and not even diet sodas are safe. That's because soda is high in phosphoric and citric acid, both of which are damaging to the teeth. The occasional soda is fine as long as you rinse your mouth out with water afterwards, but you shouldn't make soda a major staple in your diet if you want to maintain healthy teeth.
When it comes to alcohol, one of the biggest problems for your teeth is that alcohol dries out the mouth. A dry mouth doesn't have adequate saliva, which is needed to keep the teeth healthy. Saliva prevents food from sticking to the enamel and can minimize the risk of gum disease, decay, and oral infections.
Sports drinks may sound healthy, but most varieties have a common first ingredient – sugar. Sugary drinks are bad news for your enamel, as they feed the acid-causing bacteria that will eat away at this protective layer. If you feel you want a sports drink, choose an option that is low in sugar, but it is still better to switch to water when possible.
A hydrated mouth is a healthy mouth but be sure to minimize the consumption of these beverages if you want healthy enamel. Call us to learn more.
