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Drinks That Are Bad for Your Teeth

Indulging in a favorite beverage is something many people do regularly. But just because something is enjoyable doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good for you. Some popular drinks can harm your teeth. If your teeth are already damaged or stained by the beverages you drink, schedule an appointment with your holistic dentist in La Mesa and see what treatments are available. Here’s a list of the top four drinks that can potentially harm your teeth if you drink them in excess. Does your favorite drink make the list?

1. Soda

You probably know soda isn’t good for your body, but you may not realize it’s bad for your teeth as well. Most sodas are loaded with sugar that can attack your tooth enamel and increase your likelihood of developing cavities. Even if you opt for the sugar-free type, your teeth will still be subjected to high levels of acidity. Exposing your teeth to highly acidic drinks can weaken your enamel and increase tooth sensitivity over time.

2. Citrus Drinks

You may be surprised to learn that citrus drinks like lemonade and orange juice can be hard on your teeth. While citrus fruits contain vitamins and other nutrients that are good for the body, they also contain high levels of acid that can harm the teeth if consumed in high quantities or too frequently. To keep your teeth safe, limit your consumption of citrus drinks and wait at least 30 minutes after drinking them before brushing your teeth.

3. Coffee

Coffee contains a lot of important nutrients, but it’s important to enjoy it in moderation. Drinking too much coffee can stain your teeth, thanks to the high quantity of staining tannins found in coffee beans.

4. Tea

Like coffee, tea contains a variety of nutrients that are good for the body. However, it’s important to be mindful of the way tea can stain the teeth. To limit staining, sip your tea through a straw and have your teeth professionally cleaned by a dentist in La Mesa, CA, on a regular basis.

Implants vs. Dentures

At Smilehaven Dental Center, it’s our mission to give all of our patients in and around La Mesa and El Cajon, CA a smile that they can be proud of – no matter what their current dental condition may be. Even if you happen to have missing teeth, we’re more than capable of restoring your beautiful smile through a number of our effective holistic dental treatments. Two of these treatment options that we offer in our La Mesa, CA office are dental implants and dentures. We’d like to take the time to compare these two and list out some of their pros and cons.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are small titanium posts that are implanted into a patient’s jawbone in the spot where a tooth is missing. After a period of time where the implant has to properly fuse with the jawbone, the cosmetic dentist will attach a crown to the top of it, giving off the look of a natural tooth.

Pros

  • Dental implants will look, feel, and function just the same as your other natural teeth.
  • With their excellent look, they may even give you more confidence.
  • Dental implants give you the best chewing functionality and allow you to get a proper nutrition.
  • They’re anchored in and you won’t have to worry about them sliding around like dentures can.
  • They’ll act as a support for the rest of your teeth and keep them from shifting into the space left by the missing tooth.
  • Implants just require the same cleaning and maintenance as the rest of your teeth.
  • When a dental implant is taken care of properly, it can last a lifetime.

Cons

  • Surgery is required to have dental implants placed.
  • A cosmetic dentist will typically take about three-to-six months to complete the dental implant procedure.
  • Dental implants are more expensive than other tooth-replacement options.

Dentures

Dentures are prosthetic devices that are constructed to be used as replacements for teeth. Dentures are placed inside the mouth and often supported by both the surrounding hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity. Sometimes, an adhesive will be needed to keep the dentures in place as well.

Pros

  • The creation and placement of dentures is a simple process and it won’t require any surgery.
  • If you lose any more teeth in the future, the dentures can just be modified to add extra ones.
  • Dentures provide a relatively inexpensive option for replacing teeth.
  • It’s easy and inexpensive to maintain them as well.

Cons

  • Dentures don’t appear as natural as dental implants.
  • Dentures can have a tendency to slip around inside your mouth, which will make it more difficult to eat properly and get a good nutrition.
  • Some foods may not even be able to be eaten at all.
  • Your dentures will need to be cleaned regularly.

Contact Your La Mesa and El Cajon, CA Cosmetic Dentist Today!

Whichever one you choose is completely up to you and you can rest assured that we provide high-quality dentistry for both options. If you have any further questions about either our dental implants or our dentures, please don’t hesitate to contact us. If you’d like to schedule an appointment with your La Mesa, CA cosmetic dentist, we encourage you to give us a call at (619) 464-2801. We hope to hear from you soon!