2 surprising sugar-free drinks that are ruining your teeth

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Drinks can lead to enamel discoloration, cavities, and even disease.

It's well known that drinking too many sugary drinks can affect our teeth. Sugar increases the growth of bacteria in our teeth, which then wears away the protective enamel, leading to cavities. However, it's not the only ingredient to be concerned about when it comes to our teeth.

People usually don't think much about what they drink and the impact that drinks have on our health, especially our teeth. Being careless about what we drink can lead to tooth discoloration, cavities, gingivitis, and periodontal disease. Many unhealthy drinks are delicious, but that taste comes with its share of drawbacks and risks when consumed regularly.

Coffee

“Coffee is known to cause tooth discoloration and can also stain teeth.”

The chlorogenic acid compound in coffee beans can cause external discoloration of tooth enamel. Try drinking coffee through a straw to prevent direct contact with your teeth, as excessive coffee consumption can also erode enamel and increase tooth sensitivity.

“Coffee is also slightly acidic, which can contribute to enamel erosion. Not to mention, added sugar can increase your risk of cavities.”

Milk

Drinking dairy milk will make your teeth strong, but leaving milk on your teeth for a long time, like overnight, will cause the lactose in the milk to contribute to cavities. Lactose is a form of sugar.

“Try drinking unsweetened almond milk instead, as it has zero grams of sugar, compared to 12 grams in an eight-ounce serving of dairy milk.”