Dentist Arlington Heights IL – What You Drink Impacts Your Smile

There are numerous ways to improve your smile in addition to your regular visits to the Dentist Arlington Heights, brushing and flossing. What you drink can impact your oral health, so it is important to know which beverages are helpful and which are harmful. The following are beverages that would be helpful in strengthening your smile and maintaining good oral health.

Water

Drinking water is very beneficial to your gum and tooth health. Your Dentist Arlington Heights IL recommends mainly drinking water, as it can serve as a rinsing agent to clear your mouth of debris left behind from the food you have consumed. Additionally, fluoride in water can help to strengthen your tooth enamel, preventing tooth decay.

Dairy

Dairy products, such as milk, can help strengthen your teeth. Milk provides calcium and phosphates, which strengthen your teeth and help your smile to stay bright. If you opt for enriched milk, it can also serve as a source for Vitamin D, helping your body to use the calcium.

Unsweetened Tea

Unsweetened tea can be helpful to your teeth because green and black teas contain polyphenols. These interact with plaque-causing bacteria to combat cavities and decay. Tea can prevent bacteria from growing and spreading in your mouth, helping your smile to stay healthy.

On the other hand, there are some beverages that can be harmful to your oral health. In order to keep your mouth healthy, your Arlington Heights Dentist recommends avoiding the following drinks.

Acidic Beverages

Citrus drinks, such as orange juice, contain acids that can wear on your teeth. If you choose to consume acidic drinks, your Dentist in Arlington Heights IL recommends rinsing with fluoride after drinking to help prevent tooth decay.

Coffee

Drinking coffee can stain your teeth and dim your smile. In addition, added sugar can linger and produce bacteria that can turn to plaque. Try to avoid coffee if you can. Otherwise, your Dentist in Arlington Heights recommends rinsing after consuming coffee.

If you choose to consume beverages that can be harmful to your teeth, you can still combat these choices. For example, chewing sugar-free gum can help to clear away harmful bacteria, preventing tooth staining and decay. Additionally, rinsing with mouth wash can also help to kill germs. However, these are supplements, not substitutes, to your regular oral hygiene regime. You should still continue to brush and floss daily, and you should be visiting your Dentist in Arlington Heights IL to help you maintain a beautiful, healthy smile.