Do you suffer from poor oral health? Are you prone to cavities? Your dental woes could be the result of high levels of sugar and acid in your favorite drinks.

1. Soda

The high sugar and acid contents in soda soften the enamel (the hard, protective layer over your crowns), leaving your teeth vulnerable to cavities. In 2014, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group resolved to market smaller drinks with reduced sugar.

2. Alcohol

Alcohol is used as a drying agent in chemical procedures, and it has the same effect on your mouth. In addition to reducing your saliva (your mouth’s organic bathwater), alcohol creates an acidic environment, which softens your enamel. The high sugar content increases your risk of cavities. Red wines also leave heavy stains on your teeth over time.

3. Coffee

Coffee contains intense color pigmentation known as chromogens. Chromogens attach to the surface of your teeth and stain them yellow. Depending on your preference, your coffee may also contain high levels of sugar.

4. Tea

Darker blends, like black tea, can stain your mouth even more than coffee due to their high levels of tannin (a bitter organic substance found in bark and other plant tissue). Green and herbal teas are less likely to stain.

5. Sports drinks

While sports drinks replenish electrolytes and are a preferable beverage to water after a hard workout, they contain high acid contents that endanger enamel. In fact, sports drinks are even worse than soda.

Water and milk are the most tooth-friendly options, but that doesn’t mean you have to completely boycott your favorite drinks. To learn more about beverage moderation and your dental health, contact Mountain Peak Dental at 406-363-4010 and schedule an appointment with Dr. Jeff Davidson or Dr. Lynn M. Seamons. You can find us in Hamilton, Montana.