The summer heat makes reaching out for sugary, ice-cold drinks easier.
However, drinking sodas, lemonade, sweet teas, and iced coffees all summer is harmful to your oral health.
Don’t worry; you don’t have to give up on refreshing drinks that can hydrate you throughout the summer. You’ll find plenty of sugar-free or low-sugar alternatives to satisfy your sweet tooth. Here are some tips to know what drinks are healthy for your teeth and some examples of refreshingly healthy drinks for teeth that will keep everyone chill and satisfied all summer.
How to Know If a Drink is Safe Or Harmful to Teeth
The drinks you consume will affect your oral health, for better or worse. Before checking out your options for tooth-friendly drinks this summer, here are some questions to ask yourself to help you figure out what drinks are healthy for your teeth:
Is the drink acidic?
Acidic drinks may damage enamel by causing the loss of essential minerals that make enamel strong. Weak enamel cannot protect your teeth as effectively as before, making teeth more susceptible to tooth decay and sensitivity.
Does it have dyes or food coloring?
What drinks are healthy for your teeth? Drinks that don’t have artificial coloring mixed into them. Some have food coloring or dyes mixed in them to make them more appealing. These dyes can stain teeth; avoid them if you want to keep your teeth bright and white this summer.
Does it have lots of sugar?
Most drinks that are good for your teeth don’t have much sugar or sweeteners added to them. Drinks with high sugar levels are notorious for causing cavities and all sorts of dental problems. However, the sugar itself is not the cause of tooth decay. Sugar actually nourishes the bacteria in your mouth, which produces acids that damage and erode the enamel of your teeth. Continuous acid attacks will result in tooth sensitivity and tooth decay.
Can it dry out your mouth?
Drinks that are good for your teeth, hydrate, not dehydrate. Alcohols and cocktails are not tooth-friendly drinks because they dry out your mouth. Our mouths need saliva to flush out harmful bacteria, neutralize acids, and break sugars down. Saliva also provides essential minerals that help remineralize tooth enamel.
Refreshing Tooth-friendly Drinks
Here are some refreshing drinks that are good for your teeth on hot days when you feel thirsty:
Milk
Milk is one of the healthiest drinks anyone can consume. It’s also a good example of drinks that are good for your teeth. Milk provides us with essential minerals like calcium, which helps strengthen teeth while protecting against gum disease. Together with phosphorus, it aids in strengthening and repairing tooth enamel.
You could mix it in teas and smoothies or enjoy the occasional glass of cold chocolate milk as long as you’re mindful of their sugar content.
Water
Tap or bottled, water will always be one of the best drinks that are good for your teeth no matter the season. It keeps us hydrated and doesn’t contain any sugar or acids that could damage enamel and cause cavities. It also rinses away and food and sugar that remain in your mouth. It also helps our mouths produce adequate saliva, which cleans your mouth and protects your gums and teeth.
Water prevents us from getting dehydrated. Still, you might want to spice it up a bit by infusing it with different fruits or herbs. You only need to fill a pitcher with five cups of water and a cup of ice cubes. Add a cup of fresh fruits and herbs to amaze your taste buds. Classic combinations include melon balls, citrus fruit and mint, berries, basil, rosemary, or tropical fruits like pineapple, coconut, mango, and papaya. Finally, let it chill for a few hours to let the fruity flavors infuse the water.
Sparkling water is also an option, as long as it’s unflavored.
Low Sugar Green Juices
Green juices with low sugar content are another example of drinks that are good for your teeth. Common green juice ingredients like spinach, celery, cucumber, and kale are rich in calcium and vitamins that improve your dental health. They are also full of calcium and vitamin B that make teeth stronger and help fight gum disease. However, green juices made at home are better than store-bought. Green juices available in stores have large amounts of fruit juice that can damage teeth.
Cool Teas
Cool, unsweetened, or slightly sweetened tea is another option to cool down during summer. Try to avoid adding sugar to your tea. Let your tea cool in the fridge for a few hours if you want to resist the temptation of chewing on the ice; this also avoids watering your tea down. However, tea is notorious for staining teeth; avoid this by using a straw.
The grocery is full of different tea types. Why not try green teas? They are good for teeth and overall health; they’re rich in antioxidants and flavonoids that reduce inflammation, prevent oral cancer, and kill bacteria.
It also promotes saliva production, an important component of your mouth’s overall health.
Natural Fruit Juice
Blended juices made from natural fruits are safe and healthy for your teeth. You can make them your own too. Store-bought juices are chock-full of sugar and additives that are harmful to our teeth and overall wellbeing.
Coconut Water
Sometimes, just drinking water becomes boring. Why not try water from a coconut? Coconut water is a refreshing and antioxidant-rich healthy drink for teeth. It’s also a better alternative to sports drinks because it contains electrolytes like potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Make sure to choose a brand with low sugar.
Some Tips to Keep Teeth Safe This Summer
Not drinking your favorite drinks is difficult, but it’s possible. But if you really want to indulge, here are some tips to still keep your teeth safe:
- Use a straw.
- Wait for at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth after eating sweet or acidic foods.
- Replace water with tonic.
- Chew sugar-free gum to increase saliva production.
- Drink slowly
- Swirl water in your mouth every once in a while.
Have a Happy Summer from Sunrise Dentistry
Try out these healthy drinks for teeth and keep hydrated. Also, don’t forget to visit the dentist this summer; preventive care is still one of the best ways to protect your teeth from damage and other dental problems. Our dentists in Pagosa Springs also perform general dentistry procedures to keep your teeth healthy no matter the season. Call us today.
