Worst Drinks for Dental and Orthodontic Health
Your Expert Salt Lake City Orthodontic Provider is Here to Help
When choosing a beverage, it’s important to consider the effects it can have on your dental and orthodontic health. Some drinks may actually be beneficial for your teeth, while others can actually do quite a bit of harm. At Utah Orthodontic Care, we want to help you make good oral hygiene decisions that will keep your smile healthy and bright. That is why we’ve created this handy list of drinks to avoid if you’re looking out for your oral health.
Worst Drinks for Your Teeth
Soda
Soda is a highly acidic drink packed full of sugar. Not only can the acid from the drink erode away tooth enamel, but the punch is packed two-fold by the high sugar content of the beverage reacting with naturally-occurring bacteria in your mouth to form more acid, which then further attacks your teeth. This acidic onslaught can weaken tooth enamel to the point of decay — and this isn’t just limited to sugary sodas. Diet sodas, while sweetened with artificial sweeteners instead of sugar, still contain a high enough acid content to cause a fair amount of damage to tooth enamel on its own.
If you’re looking to preserve your tooth enamel and the overall health of your teeth, skip the soda!
Sweet Tea
Sweet tea is a refreshing favorite of many, but it’s certainly not doing your teeth any favors. In fact, some store-bought sweet teas have been found to have even higher sugar content than some sodas — yikes! However, if you don’t mind ditching the sugar, brewed black and green tea are safer alternatives. Some studies have shown that green tea may even be beneficial for your oral health, possibly helping prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Sip, hooray!
Fruit Juice
If you thought fruit juice would be a healthy alternative to other, less healthy sugary beverages, we’ve got some bad news for you — most fruit juices are made from concentrate, which actually exposes your teeth to more acid than if you were to simply eat the actual fruit. But if you’re not quite ready to give up the juice with your breakfast, you can always dilute it with water to lessen the potential effects.
Sparkling Water
It may seem like a harmless, more flavorful alternative to plain water, but unfortunately, looks can be deceiving. Sparkling water tends to carry a pH level high enough that it has even greater potential to erode tooth enamel than orange juice. Instead of reaching for sparkling water, squeeze some fresh lemon or lime into a glass of water and enjoy!
Talk to Your Greater Salt Lake Area Orthodontic Provider Today
If you have further questions about how your favorite food or drink can affect your oral health, speak to your trusted Salt Lake City braces provider at Utah Orthodontic Care. We’ve been proudly serving the Greater Salt Lake Area for over 35 years, providing a variety of orthodontic treatments like Invisalign and braces to patients of all ages. Let our skilled orthodontic professionals help create an orthodontic treatment plan for you. Contact us today to get started with a complimentary consultation! With many locations throughout the area, there’s never a Greater Salt Lake Area braces provider too far away. Don’t wait any longer — let us give you the smile you’ve always dreamed of. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
