- Drinks that promote oral health and help fight cavities
- Beverages you can still enjoy, but in moderation
- Drinks to limit or avoid altogether to protect your teeth and gums
People often eat crunchy vegetables, nuts, leafy greens, and dairy products to help keep their teeth and gums healthy and strong.
However, your beverage choices also play a role in protecting your oral health. The key thing to remember is that not all beverages are created equal when it comes to fighting cavities, gum disease, dry mouth, unsightly discoloration, and other oral health concerns.
Let us break down which tooth-friendly beverages help protect your teeth and gums and which ones you should avoid to maintain a bright, healthy smile.
Drinks that promote oral health and help fight cavities
Water
Perhaps unsparingly, water tops the list of beverages that support tooth and gum health.
Water helps keep your mouth clean by washing away leftover food particles and other residues that bacteria feast on to create acid. This acid will wear away at your tooth enamel, the hard outer shell of your teeth that protects the soft tissue inside, leading to cavities. Drinking water can also dilute the acids before they can cause damage.
Dry mouth is another oral health concern that water can help solve. When your mouth goes dry, it inhibits saliva production. Saliva provides a natural “wash” for your teeth with calcium, phosphate and fluoride, helping to keep bacteria at bay. Dry mouth is also a leading cause of bad breath (halitosis), which no one enjoys. Water is one of the best drinks to promote optimal saliva production and keep your mouth feeling clean and fresh.
If you live in an area where municipal tap water is fortified with fluoride, such as here in Toronto, you have an extra advantage. Drinking water with fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel and fight tooth decay. Be sure to drink 8 – 10 cups of water every day for strong teeth and healthy gums.
Milk
Like most dairy products, milk is highly regarded for being rich in calcium and phosphates, which help repair damage to teeth. However, milk also contains other crucial elements that improve oral health.
For example, milk contains casein proteins that protect tooth enamel from decay by forming a protective film on the surface of teeth. It is also primarily pH-neutral, which aids in neutralizing acids. Milk, just like water, also helps stimulate saliva production, your body’s first defence in protecting your teeth.
Green tea
This soothing, hot beverage also supports optimal dental health.
Green tea contains catechins, which deliver potent antimicrobial effects against bacteria that cause plaque buildup, tooth decay, and bad breath. It also helps neutralize acids that can attack tooth enamel.
Another positive effect green tea has on oral health is its ability to help prevent gum inflammation, which can lead to gum disease (periodontitis) and potentially tooth loss.
Beverages you can still enjoy, but in moderation
Coffee and tea
Millions of people enjoy hot coffee or tea every day. Neither beverage is known to have detrimental effects on oral health until sugar is added, increasing the chances of tooth decay.
Additionally, people who drink a lot of coffee and tea over time may find that their teeth are becoming discoloured. Coffee stains, in particular, are tough to remove via brushing alone. Herbal teas are less likely to leave stains behind than black teas, but the risks are still there.
You can minimize tooth staining by drinking coffee and tea with a straw and then drinking water to wash away leftover particles that can cause tooth discolouration.
Fruit juices
Many people consider 100 percent fruit juice a healthy alternative to soda and other sugary drinks. However, it should still be enjoyed in moderation. The natural sugars present in fruit juice feed oral bacteria, leading to the production of acids that damage teeth. Additionally, fruit juices, especially the citrus types, contain acids that can wear away at tooth enamel. Consuming too much fruit juice can lead to tooth decay and cavities.
As with coffee and tea, the best way to minimize the risk of tooth damage from fruit juices is to drink them through a straw and rinse with water afterward to help neutralize harmful acids.
Brushing your teeth after drinking fruit juices can also help, but it is best to wait about 30 minutes to an hour to allow tooth enamel to remineralize and avoid pushing the acids further into your teeth.
Drinks to limit or avoid altogether to protect your teeth and gums
Sugary drinks
The acidity and sugar in soda pop and energy or “sports” drinks can eat away at your tooth enamel, leading to cavities and tooth decay. These beverages can be a disaster for your oral health, so proceed with caution.
Better yet – stick to water!
Alcoholic beverages
Alcohol can dry your mouth out, inhibiting saliva production, which is critical in washing away bacteria and food particles. Also, if you mix alcohol with sugary pop, you will harm your teeth even more.
Ask Yonge Eglinton Dental for more tips on tooth-friendly beverages
The expert team at Yonge Eglinton Dental specializes in helping your whole family enjoy happy, beautiful smiles. We are also here to provide our patients with helpful, friendly advice on which food and beverages will help promote optimal oral health, as well as what they should avoid to help protect their oral health.
If you have any questions about how your meal plan impacts your dental health, we would love for you to make an appointment to speak with our team. We are here to help!
Get helpful dental advice from the dental experts at Yonge Eglinton Dental in Toronto
Talk to our dental health team when you are ready to optimize your oral health. We will work together to ensure your teeth and gums look great and are as strong and healthy as possible. Make an appointment for an office visit today by calling our office at 416-932-2222 or booking online. We look forward to seeing you!
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