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Aside from what you eat, what you drink has a big impact on your oral
When you drink a liquid, you’re essentially bathing your teeth in that
 beverage.  And many drinks pose a hazard to your dental health similar 
to that of sweet treats such as candy and chocolate.
When it comes to your diet, there are two chief threats to the health of
 your teeth: sugar, which promotes the growth of bacteria in your mouth
 and damages enamel, and acid, which also harms enamel. Both are 
found in a variety of popular foods and drinks.

Top Beverages That Can Harm Your Teeth

Edmond R. Hewlett, DDS, a professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry 
and a consumer adviser for the American Dental Association, says he 
won’t touch fruit juice — it’s high in sugar and can also be quite acidic.
 This category of drink includes smoothies, since many are made with
 citrus fruits, which are acidic, and fruits  that are high in sugar.
“Once sugar hits the mouth,” says Dr. Hewlett, “bacteria are very 
effective and quick.”
Another thing to consider is the sugar you add to your coffee or tea. 
This sugar  does more harm than the coffee or tea itself, which isn’t 
acidic enough to cause as much damage as many people believe.
“However,” says Hewlett, “do keep in mind that coffee and tea will 
stain your teeth.” To help prevent staining, he recommends that you
 run a wet toothbrush over your teeth or at least rinse your mouth out 
with water after drinking these beverages. This can help slow the amount
 of staining over  time.
Wine also contains acid, but Hewlett says only excessive wine consumption
 puts your tooth enamel at risk. However, like coffee and tea, it can stain 
your teeth, and drinkers might want to consider rinsing with water after 
 to reduce the  amount of staining over time.
Many people rightly believe that regular soda is bad for the teeth because 
of its
 high sugar content. But sodas, as well as diet sodas and diet sports drinks, 
can also cause significant harm to tooth enamel because of the acid they 
contain.
“These drinks often contain phosphoric or citric acid to make them tangy 
and 
taste good,” says Hewlett. “Soda actually contains an acid that dentists 
use to 
rough up enamel before administering bonding treatment.”

It’s Not Just What You Drink But How You Drink It

Keeping your teeth healthy while you drink involves more than just 
making the right choices of what to drink.
If you drink slowly, you allow the liquid to have more contact with your 
teeth. 
If you nurse a diet soda throughout the day, for example, or sip a sugary
 latte during your hour-long commute, the damage to your teeth can be 
much greater than if you finish your beverage quickly.
Drinking with a straw can help reduce damage to tooth enamel — it seems 
to help by allowing harmful substances to bypass the teeth, Hewlett says. 
Still, he advises that it’s better to avoid harmful drinks altogether.
Also, if you tend to chew ice that’s in your beverage, Hewlett advises that 
you break the habit. Over time, chewing ice can cause tiny cracks in your
 teeth, weakening them; and eventually, “a chunk of your tooth can even 
break off when you least expect it,” he explains.

Drink Tips to Promote Healthy Teeth

When it comes to choosing what to drink, you can take steps to keep
 your teeth strong and healthy. Start with these strategies:
  • Drink fruit juices and smoothies with a straw and aim to finish 
  • them in one sitting as opposed to sipping them slowly.
  • Put little or no sugar in your coffee, particularly if you tend to
  •  nurse it.
  • Drink regular and diet sodas and sports drinks sparingly, and
  •  don’t allow  yourself to sip them for prolonged periods.
  • Use a straw when it makes sense, to help avoid bathing your teeth in
  •  harmful sugary or acidic liquids.
  • Use a wet toothbrush or rinse your mouth out with water after 
  • you drink acidic beverages or anything that might stain your teeth, 
  • such as wine, coffee, and tea.
  • Don’t chew ice.
  • When in doubt, choose water.