If you’re like most folks, you already know winter treats aren’t good for your smile. It’s well-established that gingerbread cookies, holiday cakes, and Christmas chocolates contain tooth-rotting sugar. Still, maybe you haven’t heard about those holiday drinks hard on teeth. You’d do well to learn them if so; your Dallas dentist can even help you along. To that end, keep reading to discover four holiday drinks that often harm teeth over time.
Red & White Wines
Wine – both red and white varieties – is a famous staple of the winter holidays. Even so, the beverage can do a number on your teeth if you aren’t careful.
Red and white wine alike tend to stain enamel. As for the main reason, they both contain tannins – biomolecules that tend to bind dyes to your teeth. These materials can make a wine’s pigment discolor your smile, resulting in a less-than-pretty grin. Wine’s acidity then adds insult to injury by causing enamel erosion, which makes tooth stains more likely.
Hot Chocolate
Sipping cocoa is a great way to warm yourself from holiday chills. However, the drink isn’t all good; it naturally causes tooth damage.
It comes down to the ingredients used in hot chocolate. For starters, this beverage has chromogens – pigment-producing substances – that cling to tooth enamel and cause stains. It’s also packed with sugar due to its use of cocoa and marshmallows, so it can result in tooth decay and cavities.
Coffee
While many have coffee year-round, the drink is especially popular during the holidays. It’s also a cause of tooth problems when had in excess.
The fact is that coffee is inherently dark-colored and acidic. As a result, it often stains teeth as its pigments embed themselves in your enamel’s tiny gaps. The beverage can also erode your enamel with its acids, leading to varying amounts of tooth decay. This latter effect worsens when the coffee has sugar, which attracts harmful oral bacteria.
Holiday Fruit Punch
A lot of people see holiday fruit punch as harmless or even innocent. That said, the drink can easily harm your teeth after a while.
The recipes used for holiday fruit punch aren’t exactly smile-friendly. These days, most rely on juice from highly pigmented berries like cherries, blueberries, or pomegranates. Such liquid is chock full of chromogens that can lead to stained smiles. Worse yet, some holiday punches incorporate sugary sodas that can greatly decay your teeth.
You really should note the risky holiday drinks that’re hard on teeth. By doing so, you’ll keep your smile safe during the festive season!
About the Practice
Vanderbrook Family Dentistry is based in Dallas, TX. Led by Dr. Drew Vanderbrook, our practice models a patient-focused philosophy that emphasizes custom care. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and even restorative treatments, with every option tailored to your smile’s unique needs. Our team is also ready and well-equipped to treat dental emergencies on short notice. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (214)-821-5200.