4 Tips to Protect Your Teeth From Hot Drinks This Fall

Fall is already here! Instead of indulging in beachy drinks like fancy lemonades and margaritas, you’ll be making the switch to flavored coffees and hot chocolate to keep you toasty in the brisk weather. Not only are they delicious, but they also help get you in the mood for the upcoming holiday season! You’ve probably never considered whether hot drinks are bad for your teeth. Instead of putting your oral health in harms way, follow these four tips so you can keep drinking your delicious seasonal beverages without having to worry about cavities or gum disease.

Substitute Sugary Flavorings

There’s nothing nicer than the sweet flavor of cinnamon bun or gingerbread added to your coffee during fall. The only problem is that it’s typically in the form of a sugary syrup that can put your teeth at risk of developing cavities. When you frequently consume sweets, your saliva won’t have a chance to rinse sugar from the surface of your molars. Harmful oral bacteria feed off of it, allowing them to accumulate and produce acid that attacks your enamel and causes gum irritation.

Instead, try drinking your coffee black or with artificial sweeteners. You may be surprised to know that in a study conducted in 2009, researchers found that roasted black coffee can actually prevent cavities from developing and offer various additional overall health benefits.

Make Homemade Hot Chocolate

There’s no way to get around the fact that packaged, powdered hot chocolate contains a massive amount of sugar. Instead of buying the packets at the store, try making your own oral-health-conscious hot cocoa at home! Sugar alternatives like Splenda and Stevia don’t have the same negative impact on your oral health as regular sugar. Plus, making your own homemade hot cocoa is a great snow-day activity for you and your children. Just follow this simple recipe!

Switch To Green Tea

Black tea with a cinnamon stick and some orange and honey is a classic toasty winter drink for many people. While it’s not necessarily bad for your oral health, it can stain your teeth right before it’s time to take family holiday photos. Instead, try switching to green tea. Not only does it contain fewer tannins (a compound that causes tooth discoloration), but it also is high in antioxidants that can reduce gum inflammation, ward off cavities, and neutralize acid produced by harmful oral bacteria.

Visit Your Dentist

The best way to make sure that hot drinks aren’t harming your oral health is to schedule a routine checkup and cleaning with your dentist before the holiday season. That way, you can rest assured knowing that you have a clean bill of health and any small issues have been taken care of.

About the Author

Dr. Ukti Phadnis is passionate about providing all of her patients with high-quality dental care they can trust. She sharpens her skills and advances her education by taking courses in a variety of dental services such as implants, TMJ therapy, cosmetic dentistry, and Invisalign. She also stays up to date with the latest technological advancements in dentistry, allowing her to provide her patients with pain-free and fast dental treatment. For questions or to schedule an appointment, visit Wethersfield Dental Group’s website or call 860-400-3007.