The habit of drinking sugary beverages can be difficult to break. For the benefit of you and your family’s dental health, learn how sugary drinks can impact dentition. Your general dentist is a fabulous source of education, will advise how consuming sugary beverages can lead to dental decay and enamel erosion and what alternatives are available to promote better oral health.
Harmful beverages
You may not allow soda or soft drinks to be consumed in your family, but many beverages that advertise that they are healthy can contain a ton of sugar (that’s why they taste so good!). Learn how to read nutrition labels; there are many options available that won’t be harmful to dental health.
That glass of juice that you thought was promoting good health because its label says it is a great source of fruit can be sugar laden. Provide the apples, oranges, and grapes in their natural form and skip the liquid version.
Alternatives
You may think that diet soda is a good alternative to its sugary counterpart. But the acids in diet soda can lead to dental problems as well. Skip soda altogether or limit its consumption. If you are going to drink soda, use a straw and drink only with meals. Don’t allow yourself to sip on any sugary beverage throughout the day.
Healthy alternatives include water (infuse with fruit or add a sugar free flavoring to provide variety); milk (beware of flavored milk products as they may contain added sugar); or unsweetened coffee or tea. If you wish to enjoy fruit juice, dilute it by half with sparkling or plain water. Know the nutritional value of what you and your family are consuming.
Harmful habits
All day sippers may experience a higher incidence of decay than those that drink sweet beverages with meals. Saliva produced during meals provides a natural wash allowing less sugar to cling to teeth.
Your baby should never be put to bed with a bottle that contains anything other than water – formula, milk, and juice can linger on your child’s teeth for hours. Plaque can form on baby teeth leading to the same problems that adults face like decay.
Your toddler’s sippy cup should only contain water except at meals for these same reasons.
Brush and floss daily; visit your general dentist regularly; and become aware of the nutritional value of what you drink.
Call our team at Richardson Dentistry to schedule an appointment today!
