Best Alcoholic Drinks To Minimize Teeth Damage

The holiday season always makes it okay to have one, or maybe two extra drinks at your holiday party or family get together. However, alcoholic drinks aren’t the best for your dental health. Don’t despair. Our dental health experts discuss best drinks to minimize teeth damage while indulging in alcoholic beverages.

Take this category with a pinch of salt. Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as a healthy alcoholic drink, and none of these beverages are necessarily “good” for your dental health. However, if you’re looking to minimize some of the damage your smile, these drinks are your best options:

Light beer

Beer lovers are in luck. In a recent article, Dr. Joseph Banker, founder of Creative Dental Care, elaborated stating that the high water content and low acidity levels in low-carb, light beer make these brews a significantly safer option when it comes to minimizing teeth damage, particularly when compared to darker beers. By selecting beers that are also light in color to side-step potential surface stains on your teeth’s enamel, you up the clean-smile factor.

Gin and tonic

A highball classic, sipping on a gin and tonic does not only deliver an air of elegance, but also provides a much safer alternative to the wide array of cocktails available. Firstly, they are both gin and tonic are clear liquids, which eliminates the risk of staining your teeth. Secondly, Foodary as “about neutral” indicating their relatively low acidity levels. The Indiana Dental Association states that acid eats away at enamel, which is the tooth’s protective surface, until the substance creates a cavity. Foods with low sugar and acidity level will minimize teeth damage.

That being said, this drink is not completely safe as the carbonation in the tonic can also increase dental damage. You can minimize teeth damage by loading up on the ice, which will dilute the drink , and ditch acidic citrus garnishes like lime or lemon wedges.

Cava – Spanish sparkling wine

As per Wine Folly, the Spanish sparkling wine cava tastes similar to champagne and carries a slightly bitter flavor. Although you can find it in both white and rose varieties, opt for the lighter the color. The lighter the color, the lower your risk for surface stains. Furthermore, in comparison to other beverages such as sweet wine white wines, cava has a higher pH level between 3.5 and 4. A neutral pH level of 7 found in water is preferred, but when it comes to alcoholic drinks, cava is as good as it gets.

Are you unsure about the effect of your favorite cocktail on your dental health? Be sure to ask Dr. Evelina Tolchinsky, DDS and Dr. Inna Trogan, DDS during your next dentist Our dentists have served the residents of Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Dumbo, and all of our other surrounding communities for years.