5 Best and Worst Drinks for Your Teeth

The beverages you drink can have a positive or negative effect on your dental health. While some drinks can cause enamel erosion and tooth decay, others can strengthen your teeth and protect your smile. Look after your oral health by making healthy choices every time you reach for a refreshing beverage.

Worst Drinks For Your Teeth

Regular Fizzy Drinks

Crammed with sugar and also highly acidic, fizzy drinks like cola are terrible for teeth. Sugary drinks feed bacteria, which multiply in your mouth and contribute to tooth decay and bad breath. Try to cut down on regular soft drinks as much as possible to protect your dental health.

Diet Fizzy Drinks

Even though diet drinks contain no sugar, studies show that they can damage tooth enamel just as much as the regular versions. This is because sugar isn't the only harmful ingredient in fizzy drinks. Carbonated soft drinks also contain high levels of acid, which softens the enamel coating that protects your teeth from decay. Although diet drinks can be helpful if you're trying to cut back on calories, your dentist is unlikely to approve of them. Try to cut out or reduce your consumption of these drinks to protect your dental health.

Juice

Pure fruit juices are often seen as healthy as they are full of vitamin C, but unfortunately they are also highly acidic and contain a lot of natural sugars. Like other soft drinks, juices can soften tooth enamel and contribute to tooth decay. Limit the damage by enjoying a glass of juice with a meal and then rinsing your mouth with water to wash away the acids, rather than sipping juice continually throughout the day.

Best Drinks for Your Teeth

Water

Water is one of the safest options for your teeth. It contains no sugar and is not acidic, so drinking water is a good way to stay hydrated without putting your dental health at risk. In fact, if you are one of the 70 percent of Australians that live in an area with fluoridated water, then drinking water straight from the tap could benefit your dental health. Fluoride in drinking water strengthens enamel and can reduce the risk of developing cavities by as much as 30 percent.

Milk

Milk contains high levels of calcium, an essential nutrient for healthy teeth. The proteins in milk can also form a protective coating around your teeth, protecting them from the acids produced by bacteria in your mouth. Finish your meal with a refreshing glass of milk to protect your teeth and give your body the nutrients it needs.

For more information and advice, talk with your dentist.