We hear lots of advice every day about what to eat and drink in order to be more healthy. It turns out that some of the choices we make that we think are good for us could be causing damage to our teeth. Here are a few that you might not be aware of:

1. Sports drinks have become extremely popular but they are terrible for your teeth. The drinks are typically full of sugars which act as food for oral bacteria. On top of that, the pH levels in many of these drinks can cause your tooth enamel to wear away. The combination leaves you with teeth that are open to decay and a well-fed army of bacteria ready to go to work on them!
2. Even though we have been told that a glass of wine each day is good for your heart, it isn’t so good for your pearly whites. This goes beyond the issues of stains from red wine. It seems that the acidity in wine, both white and red, can also erode your tooth enamel. To avoid this don’t swish the wine around in your mouth — take small sips and rinse your mouth with water after drinking.
3. Losing a few pounds is good for your health, but going on a very restrictive diet might deprive you of  vitamins and minerals you need for your healthy smile. Poor nutrition can also affect your immune system leaving you susceptible to infections such as periodontal disease. Proper nutrition and exercise are the keys to losing weight, crash diets are never the answer.
4.  Bottled water typically does not contain fluoride like many municipal water systems do. Fluoride is controversial for some but it has been safely added to water supplies for many years and has drastically cut the rate of cavities in children and adults in this country. This substance helps remineralize the teeth making them stronger and resistant to decay.
5. Many trendy diet books suggest adding a squeeze of lemon juice to your water to promote weight loss. It really just makes the water taste a little better so you’ll drink more of it. While drinking lots of water is fine, the added acids from the citrus juice are bathing your teeth and weakening your dental enamel all day long. Keep drinking water, just make it plain tap water or if you really want lemon flavor use a straw.

If your healthy habits have left you with a smile that is not as  bright as it once was, you have many options for restoring your smile. Cosmetic dentistry using dental veneers can reshape, rebuild and restore your naturally beautiful smile.

Please contact cosmetic dentist Dr. Mark Levy at StoneRidge Dental Care in Columbus, OH today at 614-476-6696 to schedule your consultation for a smile makeover.