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With all the brands and types of drinks  on the market have you ever given any thought to what it is you are really consuming? Let”s look at some of the more common ones and what effects they have on you and your teeth:

Coffee- We know it comes in decaf, reg, low acid, etc.. What does it mean?.Studies have shown that a small amount of caffeine daily is not a bad thing. Teeth staining? Well, for the most part it is reversible with professional cleanings, and whittening procedures, but in the meantime will give your teeth a yellower hue to them. The acid is the killer here. Any beverage that is acidic dramatically increases you chances of decay in the mouth.

Soda- One of the worst things you can have. between the acidity (mentioned above), caffeine (not good in larger amounts), and massive sugar, this is a prescription for a dental disaster, from decalcification, to decay.  Most sodas have the equivalent of 10-12 teaspoons of sugar in it! Even diet sodas are bad due to the aspartame in it, which I have read breaks down into formaldehyde ( a preservative). That’s the stuff that can potentially cause cancer and is used as an embalming fluid for corpses.

Sports Drinks- Great for energy, but they are often loaded with sugar, caffeine, sodium, and are acidic. Watch the amount your kids drink.

Sparkling Water- Now here’s a fresh alternative. But is it? It has none of the above ingredients, BUT, a study I have read indicates that carbonated beverages affect the uptake of calcium, and we know woman in particular need calcium. The second thing is the carbonation can affect and slow metabolism. Imagine that: getting fatter from a zero cal drink.

Flavored Water- great, except is acidic and can damage teeth.

So with all that in mind, just what do you drink? WATER. plain unadulterated water, with a squeeze of lemon or lime for flavor. Sure, you can have any of the other ones, but in sparse amounts. Sodas that are kept at your desk all day and sipped on is the worst thing to do. You are bathing your teeth every few minutes with sugar and acid. If you want one, drink it all down with a meal.

Now……Water anyone?

I have seen many patients, maybe several hundred, over the years tell me that when they were younger, they fell or were hit in the mouth. The way they usually present is with an older, mismatching, unsightly crown on one or more of their front teeth.  They usually tell me that they had a root canal on it as well. This scenario could have been prevented. But how?

Our kids today are so involved in sports, that we would almost expect these inadvertent accidents to occur. The best thing you can do is wear a mouth guard.  This piece of rubber/plastic can be a real lifesaver when it comes to preventing irreversible damage. They can be purchased at a sporting goods store and just adjusted through heat to fit your mouth, or you can have your dentist fabricate a custom one. The benefits of a custom one are pretty obvious: they are made from an exact replica of your teeth, so the fit is  near perfect. I have the ability to have it made  of thin material for minor contact sports, to heavy-duty for full-throttle contact. They serve to disperse the impact and reduce the blow, thus minimizing the damage done.

My experience tells me that many of these adults that present with a trauma injury happened when horsing around with a sibling, or playing in the school yard. I think it is fair to say that you cannot wear one for those occurrences! If you experience trauma to a tooth or the mouth in general, call your dentist immediately. You should save a part of the tooth that broke, as it is possible that it could be bonded back in place . If an entire tooth is knocked out, gently rinse it off, and PLACE IT BACK IN THE SOCKET, and call your dentist. What is the bottom line? Wear a mouth guard for whatever sport puts you at risk for these injuries, and keep your dentists phone number handy.