In order to get that kind of smile, many people have turned to dental whitening. This is best done by a cosmetic dentist but, if you don’t have that kind of money, there are dental whitening strips that can offer a brighter, whiter smile.
However, many people aren’t aware that, in order to have brighter, whiter teeth, you also need to have strong teeth to undertake the process. This leads nicely to the importance of a healthy diet in keeping your teeth strong and, more specifically, it draws attention to the foods and drinks that can cause issues with teeth, as well as some tips on how to minimize damage to your teeth.
How Can Drinks Ruin Your Teeth?
In most cases, it is caused by acidic drinks causing the enamel of the teeth to become thinner and brittle. This can cause teeth to look yellow, as the underlayer of dentin is exposed through the enamel.
As well as this, acid can also cause the teeth to become thinner; the enamel is eroded, and thus, the teeth become slimmer and more susceptible to cracks and breaks.
Lastly, there are certain drinks that can cause tannin staining. This is when the enamel (which is pretty porous) absorbs the color of the drink and then stains. Yikes.
So, with that in mind, here are the top 18 drinks that can cause issues with your smile.
Cola
According to Food Champs, cola (even if it is diet) is high in both sugar and acid. This can lead to the aforementioned enamel erosion, as well as dental cavities. Yikes!
It can also create a higher level of acid reflux in the stomach, which can erode the enamel on the back of your teeth, even after you have consumed it. So, if you have weak enamel, try to give this drink a miss!
Energy Drinks
Do you love a can of Red Bull before you start your night shift? Well, energy drinks are also high in both acid and sugar, as well as also being loaded with caffeine. Of course, this will keep you awake but caffeine will usually dehydrate the mouth, meaning that you produce less saliva. The end result is a dry mouth, which doesn’t have the saliva to rinse away bacteria and food particles, upping the chance of cavities and gum disease. So, rather than drinking energy drinks, maybe stick to coffee?
Sports Drinks
If you are a runner, it may seem sacrilege to consider giving up sports drinks. After all, they rehydrate you after a run or any kind of exercise, and also replace electrolytes that have been lost through sweat. Of course, this means that there is a lot of salt and sugar in these drinks which, as mentioned, can up the chance of cavities and wear down the enamel. Maybe it is wise to just stick to drinking water, or low sugar sports drinks?
Fruit Juices
Before you shriek ‘what’s wrong with fruit juice?’ It should be noted that any kind of fruit juice is high in natural sugars, as well as acids, especially if you are drinking citrus based juices. As before, these can strip away enamel and the bacteria in your mouth don’t care if the sugars are artificial or naturally-occuring; they will use them to create cavities!
Lemonade
If you have ever sucked on a lemon, you shouldn’t be surprised as to why lemonade is on this list. In simple terms, it is loaded with a double whammy of citric acid and sugar, which can and will erode enamel, leading to a higher incidence of dental breakages and cavities, as well as gum disease if oral hygiene is not maintained. So, on hot summer days, drink lemonade through a straw!
Coffee
It is a great drink for early mornings but coffee is not without its flaws. Yes, if you buy it from a coffee shop and it’s loaded with syrups, it is going to increase the chance of cavities. However, coffee is very high in tannins, which can also stain your teeth over time. It is also known to cause dry mouth, which is not great for producing bacteria removing saliva.
Tea (Especially Black Tea)
If you are a superfan of tea, it may hurt you to learn that it may be causing issues with your teeth.
Even if you drink black tea, which has no milk and therefore no natural sugars, it may still be causing damage to your teeth. According to dental website Colgate, tea is another drink that is loaded with tannins, meaning it can cause enamel discolouration.
Wine (Red and White)
All kinds of wine are high in acid, which over time can dissolve enamel. As well as this, red wine is chock-a-block with tannins, which can cause discolouration of the teeth, leading them to look yellow or orange.
Alcoholic Cocktails
When it comes to cocktails, in general, it may not be a good idea to consume too many. However, one key reason to avoid them is because they are often mixed with sugars and acids, like orange juice, grapefruit juice etc, that soften the enamel and cause erosion of the teeth.
Sweetened Milk and Flavored Milk
Anything that has been sweetened is going to have added sugars, natural or not, which can and will contribute to the accumulation of plaque, leading to tooth decay. So, best stick to normal or lactose free milk, as it has all of the natural sugars removed.
Smoothies
Yes, a smoothie in the morning is a healthy drink but, this healthy drink is often high in natural sugars, as well as acids from certain fruits. Both can erode enamel and make it susceptible to dental decay.
Hot Chocolate
The bad news continues! Sweet, warming and creamy, this autumn evening drink is full of added sugars which can lead to dental decay, more so if you have whipped cream and marshmallows!
Iced Coffee Drinks
Ever wanted to swap out your regular cappuccino for an iced one? Well, coffee shops add sugars and syrups to these drinks which not only cause the enamel on the teeth to become thinner, but can also lead to decay.
Sweetened Iced Teas
Another summer drink which can cause havoc to your teeth is iced tea, but only if it is sweetened. The mixture of sugars, acids and of course tannins, can cause your enamel to erode and become discolored.
Flavored Water
Yes, even that strawberry hint to a bottle of water can cause issues for your teeth. Many flavored waters contain added sugars, as well as acids, which can weaken enamel and leave it susceptible to decay.
Fizzy Water
If you like fizzy or carbonated water, it should be noted that the carbonic acid which causes the carbonation has been found to lead to enamel erosion. This is more the case if the carbonated water has added flavors.
Pre-made Protein Shakes
A drink that is big with gym-goers, protein shakes, if they are made at home, are a great way to add bulk. Many of the pre-made protein shakes that you can get in your local supermarket are full of sugars, which can lead to enamel erosion and cavities.
Citrus-Based Drinks
This could be a squash, juice or even a cider (since when did cider incorporate orange as a key flavor?) but any drink that is based around orange juice, grapefruit juice or lime is going to be high in natural acid and sugars, both of which erode enamel and can lead to dental decay.
How You Can Protect Your Teeth
Luckily, all is not lost. You don’t have to give up drinking your morning glass of orange juice, or black coffee if you work long hours.
There are some ways that you can protect your teeth from the damage that these drinks may be causing. The first tip, according to Healthline, involves drinking more water and, in between sips of any of the other drinks, drinking water. This will help rinse away the sugars.
You can also use a straw to ensure that any highly acidic drinks have minimal contact with your teeth and, if you can, make sure that you reduce the number of acidic drinks that you consume.
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