Which Drinks Are Smile Safe?

You may find yourself becoming more and more confused when it comes to making selections that are good for your oral health. As you may have noticed, in the world of dentistry things are not always black-and-white. Give us a moment to offer some clarification, so you can make confident choices according to your preferences.

Water

If you’re looking for a drink that is completely safe for your oral health, the only answer you’re going to come up with is water. It helps keep your smile clean and healthy, so keep it around.

Everything Else

All other beverages have the potential to damage your teeth but that doesn’t mean you cannot drink them or that they don’t offer some benefits. It simply means that after indulging, it’s a good idea to drink water to rinse the previous beverage off of your teeth (and brush 30 minutes later if you have time). Allow us to highlight a few drinks, so you gain a clearer understanding of how they affect your oral health:

• Sports Drinks: Though known for their ability to hydrate athletes, these drinks are extremely acidic, so they increase your chance of tooth decay. Drink them in moderation and rinse then brush afterwards.
• Juice: Vitamins and nutrients in juice are good for your health but the drink is full of sugars (and is generally acidic). Drink in moderation and again, rinse and brush afterwards when possible for this and all drinks other than water.
• Milk: The lactose (sugar) in milk isn’t great for your teeth. However, the calcium and vitamin D are great for both teeth and bones.
• Diet Soda: It’s free of sugar but, unfortunately, quite acidic and therefore promotes tooth decay.
• Green Tea: The polyphenols within green tea can protect your oral health by reducing plaque – however, it is often acidic and may stain.