Caffeine Related Dental Problems
In regards to caffeinated beverages, soda is thought to provide the highest risk to dental health. Many sodas have an unhealthy combination of high levels of caffeine and sugar earning them the title of being a smile killer. While the ingredients may taste great, there are absolutely no health benefits associated with soda. Plus the way the beverage is consumed can also negatively impact oral health and increase the odds of developing tooth decay.
More often than not, soda drinkers tend to sip on the beverage all day long. Trace elements of the beverage will remain on teeth and while humans cannot see the remnants, the sugars left behind will provide a feast for oral bacteria. As the bacterium do their job of digesting sugars, they will produce tooth-eroding acid as a by-product. That will increase the odds of a person developing dental caries.
While there are dental benefits associated with both coffee and tea, the premiere caffeinated beverages are notorious for their tooth staining skills. Along with soda, tea and coffee can deposit a yellowish-brown or dark brown tint on otherwise healthy, white tooth. The surface tooth stain is caused by the "...interaction between a substance with your tooth's calculus or plaque than the color of the food or beverage," (1-800-DENTIST).
Regardless of how it is consumed, caffeine is also associated with unnecessary dental wear and tear courtesy of tooth grinding. Caffeine is a stimulant that impacts the bodies' central nervous system. As a stimulant the drug can certainly make a persons energy spike and in turn, that can trigger off a subconscious response of clenching and grinding teeth.
Tips For Healthy Caffeine Consumption
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) documents caffeine as being a "multiple purpose, generally recognized as safe food substance," however moderate use of the substance is advised. Although it is legal and common, caffeine is a powerful drug that can cause anxiety, addiction, nutritional deficiencies and dental woes. When it comes to caffeine, there can be too much of a good thing.
Chances are that most people will not give up their daily fix for anything and for those who prefer to throw caution to the wind, maintaining proper oral hygiene is essential to minimizing caffeine's negative impact on oral health. Brushing and flossing daily are the first steps to combating the issues. If those practices cannot be practiced after consuming caffeine, drinking clean fresh water can wash away sugars left behind. Those behaviors should be backed with regular dental exams and check ups as the work of a professional dentist can prevent any caffeine related dental woe from developing into a much larger issue. Individuals looking for a great dentist can count on 1-800-DENTIST to connect them to the skilled practitioner.