There are a number of ways to improve your smile in addition to your regular visits to the dentist in West Columbia, brushing and flossing. What you drink can have an impact on your oral health, so it is important to know which beverages are helpful and which are harmful. The following are beverages that are helpful in strengthening your smile and maintaining good oral health.
Water
Drinking water is very beneficial to your gum and tooth health. Your dentist recommends mainly drinking water, as it can serve as a rinsing agent to clear your mouth of debris left behind from food you have consumed. Additionally, fluoride in water can help to strengthen your tooth enamel, preventing tooth decay. After every meal, it is beneficial to drink a glass of water to wash down any debris that is left in your mouth.
Dairy
Dairy products, such as milk, can help your teeth stay strong. Milk provides calcium and phosphates, which strengthen your teeth and help your smile to stay bright. If you opt for enriched milk, it can also serve as a source for Vitamin D, helping your body to use the calcium.
Unsweetened Tea
Unsweetened tea can be helpful to your teeth because green and black teas contain polyphenols. These interact with plaque-causing bacteria to combat cavities and decay. Tea can prevent bacteria from growing and spreading in your mouth, helping your smile to stay healthy for a longer time.
Conversely, there are some beverages that can be harmful to your oral health. In order to keep your mouth healthy, your dentist in West Columbia recommends avoiding the following drinks.
Acidic Beverages
Citrus drinks, such as orange juice, contain acids that can wear on your teeth. The acid in these drinks help to destroy the enamel on your teeth. Enamel strengthens your teeth. Once your enamel is gone, you can not get it back. If you choose to consume acidic drinks, your dentist recommends rinsing with fluoride after drinking to help prevent tooth decay. Other acidic drinks include energy drinks, sodas and fruit drinks.
Coffee
Drinking coffee can stain your teeth and dim your smile. In addition, added sugar can linger and produce bacteria that can turn to plaque. Try to avoid coffee if you can. Otherwise, your dentist recommends rinsing your mouth with water or mouthwash after consuming coffee.
If you choose to consume beverages that can be harmful to your teeth, you can still combat these choices. For example, you can drink these beverages with a straw. This helps to reduce the amount of exposure your teeth are getting from these drinks that are harmful to your oral health. You can also chew sugar free gum after every food intake to help clear away harmful bacteria. Chewing sugar free gum can also prevent tooth staining and decay. Additionally, rinsing with mouthwash can also help to kill germs.
However, these are supplements, not substitutes, to your regular oral hygiene regime. You should still continue to brush and floss twice a day and try to use toothpastes that contain fluoride. Also, you should be visiting your dentist twice a year to help you maintain a beautiful, healthy smile. Following your oral hygiene regime will ultimately help protect your teeth from any harmful substances.
