Would Your Dentist Buy You that Drink?

How often do you think about what you ingest? In today’s world, more people are conscious about what they eat and drink, yet it is largely due to maintaining a desired weight. You may feel guilty about facing the scale, yet how often do you feel guilty about facing your dentist? Did you know that some drinks are harmful to your teeth? The next time you grab a drink, think about whether your dentist would approve.

How fond are you of soda and other soft drinks? Did you know that such beverages could be harmful to your teeth? The acids in such drinks do damage to teeth enamel. Producers of soft drinks spend millions of dollars to advertise and make drinks tasty, yet what they don’t advertise is the potential harm the products can do to teeth. A particular study performed by dentists and the ADA found that about one in every four beverages Americans consume is a soft drink. That means there are a lot of people doing potential harm to their teeth!

At this point, you might be thinking that it is no big deal to eradicate soda, or at least cut down on consumption. Unfortunately, tooth enamel is sensitive; other drinks can have a negative influence on the outer shell of your teeth too. It has been studied that any drink with a high acid content can potentially harm your teeth. That means dentists may warn against beverages such as orange juice, tea, and coffee too.

Don’t get too upset; this doesn’t mean that water is the only beverage that won’t upset your dentist. You just need to proceed with caution. For instance, if soda is your favorite beverage to drink throughout the day, then you may need to think about curtailing the consumption. Acidic drinks in moderation are okay because your natural saliva does help to maintain your tooth enamel, yet your saliva does not work as quickly as drinks with high acid contents.

In addition, there are ways to lessen the harmful effects of acidic drinks. For instance, try to avoid sipping drinks such as coffee and tea. The constant sipping increases the likelihood of enamel damage. If you are consuming an acidic beverage, try to supplement the act with eating. Eating increases the production of saliva and decreases the harmful effects of acids. Also, you can try drinking beverages with a straw. Using a straw lessens the likelihood of direct contact with your teeth. You are more likely to swallow the beverage rather than have it come into contact with your teeth as with sipping.
What drink would your dentist most likely buy you? Water is healthy for a high number of reasons and it will not do any damage to your teeth. It is a beverage alternative your dentist (and doctor!) is most likely to be happiest about. Remember that moderation is the key; you don’t always have to avoid coffee, tea, or soda; be sure to think about the amount and mode of consumption.