How Alcohol, Soda, and Coffee can Affect Your teeth

Our teeth are naturally strong, but if we are subject to bad habits such as taking alcohol, smoking, or even carbonated drinks, they experience decay and discoloration.  This article looks at how drinks we may think are harmless can be devastating to our health and the general appearance of our teeth.

Is Your Drinking Habit A Concern For Your Teeth?

Most Americans are casual drinkers. They drink at times, maybe once a week or on specific occasions. Alcohol consumption may affect your overall health and, in turn, your dental teeth. However, most people who sip on specific occasions are not at risk of teeth damage from alcohol, especially if they accompany the drinks with meals.

So what are some of the effects of alcohol on your dental health?

How Can Alcohol Affect Your Smile?

Alcohol comes in different forms, and everyone has their favorite type of drink. In moderation, these drinks have no harmful effects; we have even heard of the benefits of drinking red wine.

However, people who consume alcohol regularly in excessive amounts can develop tooth decay if the alcohol is sugary. The acid present in the alcohol can also break down your tooth enamel. Visit a dentist near you if you are experiencing any excruciating pain or have an abscessed tooth.

Besides the infection and abscess, alcohol drinking will affect your smile in the following ways:

• Staining

Alcohol has chromogens that give them color, and it also has acids that weaken the dentine of your teeth. Alcohol can therefore cause tooth discoloration. Therefore, if you want to have a bright smile, you need to avoid red and darker wines.

• Dry Mouth

Drinks such as liquor have a high alcohol content and often dry your mouth quickly. Saliva helps remove plaque and bacteria from your mouth, so when your mouth is dry, then saliva is not present to reduce the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

• Tooth Sensitivity

Some types of alcoholic drinks may be citrusy, while others may add a squeeze of lemon. This is meant to add a bit of energy to your beverage. However, this acidity causes enamel breakdown, which may lead to cavities and tooth sensitivity.

Carbonated Beverages Can Cause Tooth Decay

Carbonated drinks such as soda are harmful to your teeth, just like alcohol. A soft drink is never a healthy choice, whether lemon, orange, or lime flavor. This is because it has high glucose levels, which mix with bacteria in your mouth, forming plaque. A high build-up of this plaque quickly causes tooth decay.

Apart from empty calories, soda is also harmful to your overall health as it causes health complications such as diabetes, obesity, and osteoporosis, among others.

Diet sodas contain different acids, such as citric acid, tartaric acid, and phosphoric acid, which may lead to dental erosion. With the help of your dentist in Longmont, you can identify the components in different drinks that might affect your teeth.

The Love and Hate Relation between Coffee and Your Teeth

Coffee has many health benefits, but you cannot enjoy them if you are an excessive coffee drinker. The biggest problem with coffee is that it stains your teeth. Coffee has dark pigments that become embedded in your tooth’s enamel. This can be removed, but many people do not consider it. As a result, the pigments finally appear as stains.

Interestingly, if you take your coffee in small amounts, it can whiten and improve the health of your teeth. A recent study found that coffee, mainly the roasted beans, could kill the bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Finding a General Dentist in Longmont

If you have a stained or decayed tooth due to your drinking habits, visiting Fox Creek Dental by Espire is crucial. Our Longmont dentist will guide you on ways you can manage your drinking habits to prevent tooth decay. In addition, they will advise you on the suitable types of drinks to take. We also provide cosmetic dentistry services such as teeth whitening and veneers. Our general dentistry in Longmont also offers fluoride treatment to strengthen your teeth.