Will These 4 Popular Drinks Hurt Your Teeth?

Many of us are incredibly health-conscious when it comes to which beverages we allow to pass our lips. However, what we often don’t consider is how these drinks will affect our oral health. That’s right, a lot of popular beverages out there can affect your pearly whites, whether negatively or positively. A dentist in Northwest Dallas is here to discuss four of them.

Coffee

One study published in the Journal of Conservative Dentistry has suggested that drinking black coffee without any sweeteners can actually lead to a decrease in cavities, even though the connection is still not entirely understood.

You may have heard that coffee can stain your teeth, which is true. In order to minimize this effect, sip your coffee through a straw. This practice is more commonly associated with iced coffee than with hot coffee, but both types are equally likely to discolor your teeth. Drinking coffee through a straw makes the beverage bypass the front surfaces of your teeth, avoiding stains.

Wine

It’s common knowledge that red wine can also stain your pearly whites. However, did you know that your dentist would prefer you drink red wine to white? This is because white wine is actually more acidic than red. The more acidic a drink is, the more it can wear down your enamel and expose the layer of dentin underneath. Not only is dentin more sensitive than enamel, but it is also yellowish in color. This means that the more white wine you drink, the yellower your teeth will become!

Alcoholic Drinks

Alcohol is general is bad for your teeth because it causes dry mouth, which means that your mouth does not have enough saliva. Saliva helps flush your mouth out of leftover food particles and bacteria that cause gum disease and decay. So, if you’re going to consume alcoholic beverages, be sure to drink some water with them. A good rule of thumb is one glass of water for every alcoholic drink. This will also cut down on the chance that you’ll get a hangover!

Carbonated Beverages

Even though sparkling water seems healthy, it (along with other carbonated drinks like soda) is incredibly acidic. When it comes to harm done to your teeth, there is actually very little difference between diet sodas and sugary ones. They both have the same acid content, therefore they can both exact the same amount of damage to your pearly whites. If you just can’t quit soda, your dentist suggests drinking it through a straw if at all possible.

About the Practice

Bear Creek Family Dentistry has several locations throughout the Dallas/ Fort Worth Metroplex. They have a team of general and specialized dentists in all of these locations. So, no matter what your dental problem may be, they have a dental professional who can help. To learn more about how certain beverages affect your teeth, click here to contact them.