I think most of us are guilty of drinking coffee, tea, some occasional imbibing of wine (hopefully not during the work week), and coke (regular OR diet). Besides tasting great, unfortunately they all have one thing in common- they are very acidic. This acidity accelerates the demineralization of your teeth, resulting in future sensitivity, wear, stain, and overall breakdown of the teeth, and bite.
No, I’m not telling you (or myself) to stop imbibing these beverages. To mitigate these bad events from occurring, do something simple- Rinse with a mouthful of fresh water afterwards. This will have the immediate effect of helping to neutralize the acids these drinks produced in your mouth, and on your teeth. You can also drink milk right after for the same reason, but I think a glass of your favorite Pinot Grigio followed by a glass of milk is definitely not my idea of ending a romantic evening.
Just this simple act of drinking good ol’ H2O right after these acid-containing beverages can help reduce acid wear. Its a good habit to get into, something that will make your teeth stronger and more stain-resistant for years to come. And speaking of toughness, you might want to check some of the new toothpastes coming out that not only clean your pearly whites, but additionally toughen them. I personally like the new Pronamel, as it also contains some desensitizers for those of us who have occasional bouts of teeth sensitivity, but there’s a lot of other brands out there, too.
So, take advantage of these tidbits, and get your present and future self healthier!
Ed Reifman, DDS Encino 818.990.6659
