8 Drinks That Are Harmful To Your Teeth
on Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Everything you consume has some effect on your overall dental health, and drinks are no exception. The effect a beverage has on your teeth depends on several things, but the key thing to consider is how acidic the drink is. Anything that measures 5.5 or less on the PH scale is consider acidic, and risks softening tooth enamel. Drinks high in acid and sugar do even more damage to your teeth. The following 8 drinks are among the most harmful for teeth so be sure to follow up with good dental habits after consuming these beverage choices.
Wine
In the case of wine, red is better than white (although no wine is good for your teeth). Because white wine has a higher level of acidity, it is more damaging to your tooth’s enamel. This damage leaves you vulnerable to discoloration and staining.
Vodka
Depending on the type of vodka, the pH level can be anywhere from 4 to 8, with less expensive brands tending to be more acidic. However, alcohol also has a drying effect which breaks down saliva, one of your mouth’s natural defenses. Anything over moderate consumption of alcohol can be harmful.
Sparkling Water
It may surprise you to learn that sparkling water tends to have a pH level ranging from 2.74 to 3.34, which makes it more erosive to tooth enamel than orange jucie.
Sweet Coffee
Coffee’s pH level is relatively high, around 5, so it’s not as acidic as other drinks. There is also some evidence that coffee may actually be good for your teeth. However, adding sweeteners to your coffee makes it much worse.
Soda
Soda, even when it’s sugar-free, does a number on your teeth. Recent studies have actually shown that there is really no difference in enamel dissolution between diet and regular sodas within the same brand. Acidity and overall composition of the beverage seems to play an important part in breaking down enamel.
Fruit Juice
Because fruit juices are more concentrated than they are in their natural fruit form, they do more damage than regular fruit. Orange juices has a pH level of about 3.5, while cranberry juice has a pH level of about 2.6. You can negate some of the erosive effects of juice by diluting it with about 50% water.
Fruit Punch
These drinks aren’t actually juice. Not only are they made mostly of sugar or high fructose corn syrup, but these drinks also lack any redeeming qualities found in actual juice. In addition to this, the pH level is around 3. It’s best to skip fruit punch all together.
Tea
While brewed teas have a pH level of 5.5 and therefore are relatively safe, iced teas have a pH level of 3.5 to 2.5 and are loaded with sugar. Some iced teas can be even worse than sodas.
Drink wisely and visit your dentist regularly!
Be proactive about your oral health — schedule an appointment for an oral check up with Gresham Family Dentistry. At Gresham Family Dentistry our priority is your comfort. We take pride in protecting the oral health of our Gresham clients. We offer a variety of dental services including teeth cleaning, oral surgeries, child dentistry, and more at Gresham Family Dentistry. Contact us or call 503-661-2600 to schedule your appointment.
Our hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM and Thursday 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
