Keeping Teeth Healthy: Beverages and Dental Health

Good dental hygiene and regular dental exams are essential for keeping the teeth of children and adults healthy.

Tooth decay has declined in industrialized countries largely due to improved dental hygiene and the addition of fluoride to drinking water, toothpastes and mouthwashes. What's more, according to the Centers for Disease Control, the combination of dental sealants and fluoride has the potential to nearly eliminate tooth decay in school-age children. Yet today, dental caries are still a problem for some children, adolescents and adults that, if left untreated, can cause pain and may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning.

Any food or beverage that contains fermentable carbohydrates (sugars and some starches), including caloric beverages, can play a role in the development of tooth decay (dental caries). Tooth decay develops as carbohydrates (sugars and some starches) are fermented by bacteria on the teeth. This produces acids which break down, or "demineralize", the enamel on the tooth. Time is an important factor in the development of tooth decay; the less time oral bacteria are exposed to sugars and some starches, the less likelihood acid will be produced by the bacteria causing tooth decay. Beverages like soft drinks naturally leave the mouth quickly after they are swallowed, which helps reduce the time of exposure.

The good news is that tooth decay is largely preventable. Good dental hygiene, the use of fluoride, and routine dental visits can help reduce the risk of tooth decay and erosion. To protect children's teeth, parents should also follow pediatric guidelines for providing juices to children, ensure baby bottles given at bedtime or naptime contain only water, and limit between-meal snacking.

Foods and beverages high in acid, including citrus fruits and juices, pickles and some soft drinks, can contribute to or cause dental erosion if they are consumed too frequently or allowed to remain in the mouth for relatively long periods of time. Saliva helps buffer acids, which helps reduce the effect on tooth enamel.

The potential for dental erosion can be reduced by drinking acidic beverages through a straw, discouraging "swishing" acidic drinks around the mouth, limiting acidic foods and drinks to mealtimes, finishing a meal with cheese or milk, and scheduling tooth brushing at least one hour after acidic foods and beverages have been consumed to allow teeth to rebuild their mineral content. Chewing sugar-free gum after eating promotes saliva production, which helps to neutralize acids.

Related References and Resources

Cleaning Your Teeth & Gums (ADA)
Mouth and Teeth: How to Keep Them Healthy (AAFP)
Dental Hygiene: How to Care for Your Child's Teeth (AAFP)
Preventing Cavities, Gum Disease, Tooth Loss, and Oral Cancers: At A Glance (CDC 2010)
Oral Health (WHO)
Global Policy for Improvement of Oral Health (WHO 2007)
Oral Health in Ageing Societies (WHO)
Food, Dietary Habits and Dental Health (EUFIC Review)
The Use and Misuse of Fruit Juice in Pediatrics.
American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement. Pediatrics. 2001;107(5):1210-1213.