As fall ramps up, so, too, do most people’s schedules. Work becomes a full court press after the laid back days of summer. Kids go back to school and football, track, dance, plays and other activities have parents running to meet a lot of obligations. The holidays are just around the corner. Grabbing a sugary drink, such as a soda or an energy drink, can provide a much-needed pick-me-up.
While the instant spike of energy is welcome, the effects those drinks have on teeth are not.
Carbonation and acidity are the hallmarks of many popular beverages. Water contains neither of these elements. That is why water is the best beverage for your health and your teeth, especially water which contains fluoride.1
Water, however, can be boring, especially with so many other beverage choices. Finding beverages that walk the balance between flavor and minimal damage to teeth is important to overall oral health.
How Carbonated Drinks Affect your Teeth
When you drink a carbonated beverage it starts a chemical reaction in your mouth that turns the C02 into carbonic acid which can wear away tooth enamel, causing dental cavities and eventual tooth loss. Unflavored sparkling water is carbonated and has a pH of 3-4, making it slightly acidic and a better choice than most beverages.2
The lower the pH, the more acidic the drink and the worse it is for your teeth.
Water has a pH of 7; conversely many sodas have a pH of 2.3 Sparkling water can be more harmful if you add lemon or lime to the water and it you have a tendency to sip on the beverage periodically throughout the day.
As with any acidic beverage, the more frequent exposure your teeth have, the more likely you will experience tooth enamel erosion. Prolonged drinking of acidic beverages has the same detrimental effect as sucking on throat lozenges or hard candy frequently throughout the day.
The best way to drink any lower pH beverage is to do so at mealtimes, as that is when your saliva is most active. The job of saliva is to clean the mouth, washing away harmful acid.
Why Milk is a Better Choice for your Teeth
Milk is a beverage that is almost as good for your teeth as plain water because it contains vitamins and calcium, which can aid in strengthening tooth enamel.4 Even chocolate milk is healthier for teeth than many carbonated beverage but it should be consumed sparingly and with an eye to the sugar content.
Other Better Beverages for your Teeth
Light beer and root beer are also better choices than most other carbonated beverages as they are less acidic and won’t stain your teeth as much as darker-colored beverages. Low sugar coconut water is also on the list of better beverages. If you are looking for one of the best alcoholic beverage combinations for your teeth it is gin and soda water. Gin doesn’t contain sugar and is the lowest acidity alcohol.5
Beverages to Avoid for Healthy Teeth
Drinks to steer clear of include vinegar-based drinks such as Kombucha; colas; coffee; sweet tea and energy drinks.6 Cola beverages not only have carbonation but they also have high sugar content. Coke, as an example, has 30 grams of sugar (or about 10 teaspoons) in a 12 oz. can.
Coffee is on the bad list mostly because it can wear down enamel and cause staining, although it is not high in acid. The problem with coffee is the length of time it takes to drink a cup of coffee and the frequency of how often in a day people drink coffee.7 Simply drinking your coffee faster, or through a straw can help.
Keeping hydrated, especially in hot weather, is important. Choosing the right beverage will help you stay healthy overall and can really help with maintaining good oral health along with regular visits to the dentist.
Schedule a Dental Visit Today!
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1 Diet and Oral Health, 10/31/2021
Link: https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/diet-oral-health
2 Carbonated (Sparkling) Water: Good or Bad?
Link: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/carbonated-water-good-or-bad#acidity
3 Is Sparkling Water Bad for Your Teeth? Dentist Weigh In by A. Pawlowski, 2/2/2016
Link: https://www.today.com/health/sparkling-water-bad-your-teeth-dentists-weigh-t70761
4, 5, 6 12 Drinks Ranked: Best and Worst for Your Teeth. 1/9/2023
Link: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/nutrition-and-oral-health/drinks-that-can-harm-your-teeth#
7 How to Drink Your Coffee So Your Teeth Stay Stain and Cavity-Free by Zoe McDonald, 5/13/2023