Dental Health and Drinking

This time of year is marked by much celebration. On November 8^th a new president is elected. November 24^th is Thanksgiving Day. November 11^th we honor our Veterans. November 17^th is National UnFriend Day (NUD). In case you don’t know what NUD is, it is an unofficial holiday designed to promote unfriending other Facebook users that are not true friends. All of these dates, except maybe November 17^th will involve some sort of celebratory drinking.  Before partaking, you should be informed about what these drinks you are consuming are doing to your teeth.

Wine

Before raising a wine glass, consider the drink’s effects on your teeth. While red wine can be good for your health, it’s not ideal for a bright smile. Three factors work against it: It’s very acidic, it has lots of tannins, and as its deep purple color suggests, it is high in chromogens which land on your teeth, and stick to them. White wine has both acid and, despite its color, some tannins. It does not have its own color to stain teeth, but the tannins and acids make your teeth vulnerable for other types of stains.

Sugary Sodas

During holiday seasons, it’s usually a time to splurge on foods and drinks you may typically say “no” to. Sugary drinks and sodas are included in these indulgences. When you sip sugary drinks for long periods of time, plaque bacteria use that sugar to produce acids that attack your enamel, the hard surface of your tooth. Most carbonated soft drinks, including diet soda, are acidic and therefore, bad for your teeth. Caffeinated beverages, such as colas can also dry out your mouth.  If you do consume soft drinks, try to have water as well.

November is a great month! Celebrate responsibly! At Mansouri Family Dental Care and Associates, we’d like to wish you a happy November.