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Many of us dream of a pearly white smile and brush our
teeth twice a day as a lifetime hygiene ritual, heck, you may have even dabbled
with home teeth whitening products. But did you know, having multiple cups of
char a day and a cheeky red wine on a Friday night could be undoing all your
hard work?
We’ve spoken to Dr Rob, a Cosmetic Dentist with over
30 years’ experience and owner of *The Smile Dentist and Perfect Lips,
about the drinks you should avoid to maintain a bright white smile.
1. Fizzy Drinks
Whether you’re a coke fiend or obsessed with
orangeade, you probably know they’re full of sugar. In fact, the energy kick
this gives may be the whole reason you love them so much.
Sadly, although they taste delicious and give you a
little boost, fizzy drinks are full of acid and sugar by-products which weaken
teeth’s enamel and causes cavities. The dentine underneath this enamel will not
be white as you’re used to, but a darker yellow colour.
2. Coffee
Like fizzy drinks, you may rely on coffee for your
morning dose of caffeine, but it is actually one of the worst drinks for
staining teeth. In fact, when a patient has a teeth whitening treatment
from The Smile Dentist, we advise them to avoid drinking coffee for a few days
after.
3. Tea
Although not as bad as coffee, tea can also stain your
teeth - especially if you drink it without milk. You should also let your tea
cool slightly before you take a sip, as sudden temperature changes can stress
your tooth enamel and cause small cracks to appear.
4. Sports Drinks
Although sports drinks are ideal for replenishing
electrolytes after a punishing workout and are a tasty alternative to water,
many popular options are high in acid. This acid will damage enamel, making
your teeth appear yellower and feel sensitive.
5. Alcohol
Whether it’s a large glass of red with a meal, a
whisky and coke late at night or a bloody Mary during a relaxing break, many of
us enjoy a tipple or two, but like many of the drinks on this list, alcohol can
wear down enamel. Depending on your poison of choice, these may also be full of
sugar and the cause of staining too.
6. Bottled Water
Ok, so it’s not technically bad for you, but bottled
water is not as good for your teeth as basic tap water. Why? Well, naturally
occurring fluoride is removed during the filtering and purification process,
which can make the water taste cleaner, but is removing the beneficial tooth
decay preventing properties.
7. Citrus Juices
Last but not least, citrus juices may be full of
vitamins and nutrients – plus they taste delish – but they are also highly
acidic too. Some even have added sugar so it tastes sweeter. If you’re going to
have a glass of OJ in the morning, make sure to enjoy in moderation in order to
protect your gnashers.
So, What
Should You Drink?
It may seem obvious (and maybe a bit boring), but the
best thing you can drink to look after your teeth is plain old tap water. It
has no sugar, is not acidic, and most will have added fluoride which helps
prevent tooth decay and keeps your teeth looking whiter for longer. Thanks to
its high calcium and protein content, milk is also a recommended option.
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