What we eat and drink can either help or hurt our dental health immensely. Consuming acidic drinks regularly can soften tooth enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to cavities, and eventually tooth decay. Below you’ll find a helpful list of drinks that are good and bad for your health.
Wine
Drinking wine is not necessarily good for your teeth, but red wine is seen as a better choice. White wine, compared to red, is more acidic and therefore more efficient in destroying your enamel, and may lead to discoloration.
Beer
There is not a lot of data on how beer affects your teeth, but some evidence suggests it may not be as bad as you think. It’s even suggested that hops, the bitter component in beer, may have positive effects on oral health.
Water
There are no known negative impacts on your teeth from drinking water. In fact, keeping hydrated is a great way to increase saliva flow which helps to protect your teeth from decay.
Sparkling water
With ‘water’ in the name, this drink can be deceptive. Sure, it can hydrate just like plain water, but its pH level is anything but the same. With an extremely low pH of 2.74 to 3.34, sparkling water has an even higher erosive potential than orange juice.
Coffee
With a 5.0 on the pH scale, coffee is only slightly acidic, and therefore may not be so bad first thing in the morning. In fact, coffee without any additives can even help prevent cavities. If you’re drinking coffee for your oral health, maybe skip the sweetener next time.
Milk
Milk contains proteins and minerals such as calcium, which inhibit the growth of many cavity-forming bacteria in your mouth. With a solid pH of 6.5, milk is a healthy choice to keep your teeth strong, and your smile beaming.
Soda
Soft drinks are notorious for wreaking havoc on your health. What’s also not surprising is the amount of acid and sugar content hidden inside America’s favorite beverages. Sugar-free or not, sodas are not the optimal choice to maintain good oral health.
Fruit Juice
Most drinks labeled “juice” hold high levels of sugar and high fructose corn syrup. Any good qualities of fruit juice are often masked behind additional sugar. As it turns out, fruit juice has a very high pH level of under 3, making it a dental disaster.
Tea
Green tea is loaded with antioxidants which work to break down bacteria that may lead to plaque and tooth decay. However, iced tea, such as sweet tea, has a very low pH and is filled to the brim with sugar. Some sugar contents in iced tea even surpass soda.
What you drink can have a huge impact on your dental and overall health. Make sure you drink plenty of water, and schedule regular visits to the dentist to maintain a healthy smile all year round. Visit us today.