How your daily drinks affect your smile

There’s a drink for every occasion, time of day – whether it be a morning cup of tea or coffee, a high-energy workout drink, or a glass of wine on a Friday night – the choices of beverage are endless. It is important to know how the drinks you chose throughout the day affect your oral health:

Morning coffee

Is ‘but first, coffee’ your life motto? Many of us start each day with a hot cup of steaming Joe and while this wakes you up, the dark pigment seeps into your teeth’s enamel and causes discolouration. Have you ever noticed that a coffee addict’s pearly whites, aren’t so white?

Tip: Drink water after your cup of coffee and see our hygienists for regular cleans and stain removal.  

Workout energy drink

Most popular sports drinks are extremely high in sugar and are also acidic. This combination is not good news for your smile, as it erodes away your tooth enamel and causes tooth decay, due to the sugar content.

Tip: Try having water during your workouts instead or dilute your sports drink with water for a healthier compromise.

The lunch-time fizzy drink

It’s no secret that fizzy drinks don’t help your smile. Many carbonated drinks (including carbonated water!) can cause dental erosion and tooth decay, because of the sugar levels and acid contained. This in turn can cause sensitivity, enamel fracture and tooth pain. Some fizzy drinks can contain up to 21 lumps of sugar in just one can!

Sugar-free fizzy drinks do not lead to tooth decay, however they can still erode your teeth by wearing away the enamel.

Tip: Drink fizzy drinks through a straw, to help minimise the contact with your teeth, and always finish with a glass of water. 

The Happy Hour Cocktail

Although red wine is good for the heart, unfortunately it’s your teeth that suffer. Red wine dries out the mouth and makes your teeth sticky, which causes staining. 

Like fizzy drinks & sports drinks, alcohol also can cause acid erosion, especially when cocktails are a mixture of fruit juices or fizzy drinks. It is also dehydrating and reduces saliva flow, which usually helps neutralise acids in the mouth. 

Tip: Limit your consumption of alcohol and drink water after happy hour.  

Fret not, we’re not advising you to give up these drinks forever, however it’s good to be aware of your consumption and to enjoy these drinks in moderation.