The Best (and Worst) Drinks for Your Teeth

People often think of the food they eat when deciding to change their diet, but they don’t consider the other drinks that can cause a negative effect on their oral health. By choosing different types of drinks, you could really have a major impact on your teeth and oral health. Drinking more water is still one of the best things you can do for your mouth. Here are some of the best (and worst) drinks for your teeth.

The Best:

Milk

Dietary calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D work together to strengthen and repair teeth’ enamel. Milk also has a protein called casein that supports tooth decay prevention and protection of enamel. Milk naturally contains sugar, but it isn’t likely to lead to tooth decay for individuals with milk allergies or lactose intolerance.

Green or White Tea

Green and white teas are among the healthiest types of tea for your teeth, with antioxidants that help fight cavity-causing bacteria and reduce inflammation in your gums. Black tea leaves contribute to stains that can happen to your teeth over time.

Tap Water

Tap water is a cavity-fighting machine. Tap water is also good at cleaning your teeth and reducing the acid produced by bacteria in your mouth. Most tap water also contains fluoride, which helps strengthen your enamel, making it less likely for tooth decay to occur.

The Worst:

Soda

Sugary drinks, like Coca-Cola, are bad for your teeth because they’re high in sugar and have a strongly acidic pH. The color of dark sodas like Coke is also detrimental to teeth because it stains the teeth yellow.

Wine

In most scenarios, red wine will stain your teeth and white wine is more acidic and negatively impacts your enamel. There are ways to reduce the negative effects, though. Cheese can be used as a protective coating for your teeth when you’re drinking it.

Fruit Juice

Fruit juice is mostly made of water, yet it is often considered very acidic for its contents. Generally, fruit juice contains a lot of vitamins in it. Carbonated, citrus-based, and cranberry fruit juices are the most acidic to drink. If you’re still trying to squeeze some juice, dilute it by adding a splash of water or drinking through a straw

Fruit Punch

With all the shortcomings of juice, fruit punch is no replacement. It’s full of sugar and high fructose corn syrup and it can cause cavities as well. Fruit punches are also more acidic than real fruit juice, so if you drink too much, they can damage your enamel.

Sports and Energy Drinks

Though sports drinks are good for rehydrating and providing electrolytes, they’re actually bad for your teeth. Sports drinks, packed with sugar, are quite acidic and can destroy the enamel on your teeth, leaving them prone to decay.

You don’t need to stop drinking the beverages that you enjoy, but it’s wise to be aware of the consequences of these drinks on your teeth. It is wise to keep an eye on what these drinks can do to your teeth. And while you will have positive benefits from both mixed and distilled alcoholic beverages, water should be consumed often and without feeling thirsty.