Best Drinks for Teeth

Universal pH scale. This will 

help you to gain a better 

understanding of what 

can generally be considered

 acidic vs alkaline in the future.

Your teeth are the strongest bones in your body but are also the most vulnerable to degradation. What you choose to drink can either help or harm the enamel on your teeth. When enamel gets weak and breaks down you are at higher risk of developing or worsening tooth decay. Enamel does not regenerate easily when it wears away, therefore it is very important to protect it. 

The acidity level in all drinks and food are measured on the common pH scale seen below, with 7 and up being neutral and anything 5.5 or under being acidic. Water has a neutral pH level and is, therefore, the number one go-to drink choice for overall oral and basic health.

Fluoridated water especially can aid in the strengthening of tooth enamel. The ingestion of fluoride is often a controversial subject amongst some, therefore you may opt to go for a fluoridated mouthwash as an alternative. In addition t water, there are many beverages out there that can either help or hurt your teeth.

Milk is an excellent choice of beverage for tooth care, high in calcium, milk aids in strengthening and protecting tooth enamel by providing the vitamins that teeth need the most. Another great beverage that contributes to oral care is unsweetened tea, tea provides caffeine found in soda and coffee albeit has lower acidity levels. The acidic levels in natural tea are quite lower than in coffee, even when made very strong.

Drinks such as sports drinks, soda, and fruit juice have very high acidity levels as the pH level is typically under 5.5. This can have damaging effects on your teeth and enamel. Sports drinks contain high levels of sugar typically have a pH of 3 or lower. While they assist in re-hydration, these drinks have the potential to damage enamel. Soda often has a similar pH level of 3 or lower and is typically very high in sugar.

Just as noteworthy, fruit juice often has just as much sugar as sodas with around the same pH level to boot. Fresh, whole fruit and freshly squeezed fruit juice are a much better alternative to these processed fruit juices as the sugar is far less concentrated. 

If you do drink soda, juice, or a similar beverage, it is a good idea to drink them with water. This helps to balance out the pH of your mouth thereby returning the environment to more neutral levels. It is also not a bad idea to use a straw when drinking these drinks. This isn't as beneficial as avoiding these drinks altogether, however it does help to counteract some of the negative side effects associated with high acidity levels and sugar content.

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