Knowing what’s in the drinks you consume is vital for maintaining your oral health. Even if you brush and floss regularly, consuming beverages with a high acid content can significantly damage your tooth enamel.

Brushing at least twice a day and flossing once daily are essential habits to remove plaque and bacteria. Keeping up with regular dental cleanings and checkups ensures that your dentist can clean the hard-to-reach areas and detect early warning signs before they become serious issues.

How Acidic Drinks Affect Your Teeth

Beverages with a high acid level are among the biggest threats to your enamel. Once enamel wears away, it cannot regenerate. Over time, this can lead to tooth sensitivity, discoloration, and a higher risk of cavities.

The biggest culprits include:

• Soda – The top offender when it comes to enamel erosion and cavities.
• Sports and energy drinks – Often marketed as healthy, but very acidic and sugary.
• Fruit juices – Even 100% juice can contain high acid levels.
• Alcohol and wine – Both dry out the mouth and contain acids that wear down enamel.

Even drinks that seem healthy can contain hidden acids. Whenever possible, limit acidic beverages between meals, and drink them while eating instead. This helps neutralize acids and reduce direct contact with your teeth.

Tips to Protect Your Tooth Enamel

• Rinse your mouth with water after drinking acidic beverages to help wash away lingering acids.
• Use a straw to reduce contact between the drink and your teeth.
• Wait at least 30 minutes before brushing after consuming acidic drinks—brushing too soon can further erode softened enamel.

What We Can Do to Help

If you’ve already experienced enamel wear, there are several restorative options to help protect and strengthen your teeth. Depending on your condition, we may recommend fillings, crowns, or veneers to restore your smile and prevent further damage.

Because every patient’s needs are unique, we recommend scheduling an appointment for a personalized evaluation. If you experience pain or discomfort lasting more than a few days, please treat it as an emergency and contact us right away.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us at (510) 848-0114 today.