It is time to get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful spring weather! BBQs, biking, hiking, whatever gets you outside and active makes spring a great time of year. But all that running around and socializing can increase your intake of fruity beverages, sports drinks, and sodas. Plano, TX dentist Dr. Jacob Grapevine reminds patients that sugar-laden liquids can take a toll on your health, specifically your oral health.
Sugar & Your Oral Health
Many patients do not even realize how much sugar is in their beverage. One glass of fruit juice could fulfill your daily recommended sugar intake. So a soda with lunch or a daiquiri with dinner is a lot of sugar. Excessive sugar intake causes weight gain, tooth decay, and enamel erosion. Bacteria feeds on sugar left behind on your teeth. The bacteria consumes the sugar for energy and leaves an acid waste product that can erode your enamel and cause tooth decay. Patients who consume high sugar diets are more likely to experience an increase of tooth cavities.
If you want to try opting out of sugary drinks but still want a little flavor or some bubbles, try plain seltzer water with lemon or make unsweet iced tea with herbal fruit teas. Milk and water are both hydrating and good for your teeth. Milk has calcium and protein that helps strengthen teeth and fluoridated water can help wash away food and sugar particles keeping your mouth cleaner and healthier.
And as always make sure you are brushing and flossing at least twice a day. Oral hygiene is essential, especially if you do choose to indulge in a sugary drink. Bi-annual dental check-ups and professional teeth cleanings can also help maintain your optimal oral health. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy can leave you free to enjoy the warm weather and longer days. Oral health is your health, take care of your teeth so you can continue to share your beautiful and confident smile.
Schedule A Dentist Appointment
Contact our Plano, TX dentist office to schedule your regular oral health exam. Our dental care team provides personal and comprehensive dentistry for all of your oral health needs. Cosmetic and restorative dentist Dr. Grapevine is highly trained and experienced and provides state of the art modern dentistry from the comfort of his Plano dentist office.