3 Trends That are Bad News for Teeth

Let’s say you’re looking for new ways to protect your healthy smile. However, you’re struggling to come up with anything useful. What exactly *can* you do besides practice good oral hygiene and see your dentist? Well, you could avoid popular trends that are bad for your teeth. As it turns out, several DIY health products have substances that could hurt your pearly whites. Read on to learn about three of them from your Freedom dentist.

Sparkling Water

Many people enjoy the perks of sparkling water. For some, it’s a drink they genuinely enjoy. Others, meanwhile, like that it has fizziness with few added sugars or artificial ingredients.

Unfortunately, this beverage isn’t great for teeth. You see, sparkling water is acidic and can thus erode tooth enamel. When this erosion goes far enough, you raise your risk for cavities and infection from harmful oral bacteria.

If you do have sparkling water, drink it during a meal so that your saliva can counteract its acids. You should also avoid flavored brands, as their citric ingredients make them as acidic as sodas and sports drinks.

Kombucha

If you don’t already know, kombucha is a sweet-and-sour drink made with black tea. It’s gotten rather trendy lately due to its supposed physical benefits — things like improved digestion, a strengthened immune system, and even arthritis and cancer prevention.

Whether these rewards are real or not, though, kombucha won’t help your smile. Like sparkling water, the drink is highly acidic and can make enamel vulnerable to decay and cavities. Even worse, it’s packed with sugar that triggers mouth bacteria to produce harmful acids. In fact, some kombucha brands have as much as 10 grams of the carb per serving.

Lemon Juice Detox

In recent years, lemon juice detoxes have become a big health craze. Apparently, people rely on them to cleanse the body of toxins. Kinds like the ‘Master Cleanse’ even claim they can help you lose 20 pounds in 10 days.

The downside to these detoxes is that they damage your smile. Firstly, they rely on lemon juice and maple syrup, which contribute to tooth decay and cavities. Secondly, they need an all-liquid diet that reduces your mouth’s tooth-protecting saliva.

Combined with regular brushing, flossing, and dental visits, avoiding the trends above will help your smile stay clean and strong. That said, go ahead and get started!

About the Practice

Dental Expressions is based in Freedom, WI. As led by Drs. Robert and Heather Heil, the practice provides dental care that uses the latest techniques and technology. That said, its staff offers excellent preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency smile procedures. Whatever your teeth and gums need, you can trust Dental Expressions to deliver. For more information or to book an appointment, you can reach them at their website or by phone at (920)-788-6280.