Your Smile Cares About What You Drink

There are some liquids that your teeth love and others that you may love, but your teeth don’t. You shouldn’t kick the drinks to the curb that your teeth don’t approve of, but like any healthy relationship, you should learn to compromise. Here is a quick guide to your teeth’s drink preference.

Teeth-Friendly Choices

Your smile will love you when you choose to drink these beverages. Of all the liquids you can have in your diet make sure these are the dominant choice.

Water

You might have just rolled your eyes but, like most of your body, your teeth really do like water. There isn’t anything harmful in water, like sugar or acid, and it helps to keep your body hydrated.

Another benefit of water is that it helps your salivary glands to perform at their best. Your glands produce spit for your mouth that helps to carry away bad germs or pieces of food that may be stuck to your teeth or tongue. This helps you to have better oral health and less smelly breath.  

Milk

Milk contains calcium which your teeth love. Calcium helps teeth to be strong and healthy so they can munch up all your favorite foods without chipping. Not only does milk help to keep your teeth sturdy, but it also helps to fight against cavities.

According to Colgate, “Not only does milk contain calcium and phosphorus, but also proteins called caseins, which combine together to form a protective film on the enamel – or the surface of your teeth. This coating helps to prevent your teeth from incurring decay caused by common bacterial acids.”

Compromise

This is where you will need to learn to compromise with your teeth. Make sure you drink beverages with these characteristics in moderation.

Stain

There are some drinks that will stain your teeth. Thanks to teeth whitening options this problem can be fixed, but it’s better to avoid the problem in the first place by using moderation. Drinks that will stain your teeth include:

• Tea
• Wine
• Soda
• Dark Juices
• Energy/Sports Drinks

Sugar

Sugar and your teeth are not friends. Excessively sugary drinks can cause bits of sugar to get wedged between your teeth or your teeth and gums. Once it’s stuck there bacteria find it and they begin to munch away on the sugar and your tooth, forming a cavity.

To compromise, try to always rinse your mouth with water after you’ve finished your sugary drink. This could just be a quick swig of water to help dislodge those pieces of sugar.

Acid

Many drinks, like diet soda, contain acid that will break down your enamel and try to destroy your poor gums. Acid isn’t just found in soda though, there are also large quantities of citric acid found in many juices. When the enamel is compromised it leaves your teeth vulnerable to cavities and getting stained from other foods.

Life is meant to be lived and enjoyed, just don’t forget to take care of your smile. Sometimes it’s best to choose water for a side to dinner instead of your favorite soft drink.