The Effects of Hot Drinks on Your Dental Health

As the weather gets colder we want to feel warmer.  That means bundling up to go outside, turning up the thermostat in the house, and relaxing with some nice hot beverages.  As much as those pumpkin spice lattes inspire comfort and taste delicious warm drinks can create problems with your teeth.  Tea, coffee, and hot chocolate can all create issues that vary in severity based on a number of factors such as the amount of sugar… 

Staining

Coffee and tea are well-known for causing stains to teeth especially over long periods of time.  Coffee stains in particular can be resistant to brushing your teeth.  Teas can vary in staining ability depending on how rich they are in tannins.  Green tea and herbal tea are less likely to have discolouring effects while black tea is more likely. 

Tooth Decay

Coffee by itself has been found to cause little-to-no harm in terms of gum disease.  In fact, it’s been suggested that it might actually help protect your teeth due to the antioxidants it contains.  Of course, all of that is overridden once sugar has been added to the mix.  Because of its stickiness coffee with sugar can be damaging as can tea.  Hot chocolate is loaded with sugar as a matter of course so it too can be detrimental.

Prevention

There are some tips you can use to minimize the damage to your teeth.  First off, use a straw whenever possible to bypass your teeth unless you’re drinking plain water.  Yes, this is likely more for iced coffees than the hot kind but it remains good advice.  Also, you’ll want to drink water after you drink coffee, tea, or hot chocolate as it can help wash away leftover particles that could damage or stain your teeth.   

Warm beverages are an autumn tradition and they can still be part of your routine as long as you’re aware of the risks and take proper precautions to mitigate them.  Your teeth will thank you.   If you have any issues with staining or any other problems with your teeth at all contact us at Pickering Square Dental today.

Important Dental Care Tips for Seniors

For those reaching their golden years additional worries about their health are nothing new.  Advancing age makes the body more susceptible to injuries, complications, and disease.  In addition health issues that build over time often come to a head in later years further complicating a senior’s medical situation.  Dental health is no different and there are important things every senior should know about additional risks they may have and what they can do to lower those risks.

Issues Specific to Seniors

Cavities can start to pop up again in old age after not having them for many years.  The primary cause of this is dry mouth which is a reduction of the flow of teeth-protecting saliva.  Dry mouth is not a natural part of aging however, but a very common side-effect of hundreds of different medications including those for high blood pressure and Parkinson’s disease.  Your dentist can help you combat this, provided they’re aware of the medications you’re taking.

Gum disease is often painless until it reaches the advanced stage – and advanced age can often be when it strikes.  Seniors may also suffer darkened teeth due to decades consuming stain-causing beverages or the thinning of the outer enamel layer.  Tooth loss can also happen more often due to gum disease and root decay that may be the result of receding gums.

Preventative Care

There are a lot of issues but the good news is that most of it can be prevented with a fairly standard dental hygiene regimen catered to your specific needs.  That means brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and visiting your dentist on a regular schedule, a minimum of twice a year or more depending on specific circumstances.  For dry mouth specifically drinking more water will help, as will chewing sugar-free gum, oral moisturizers, and avoiding beverages that can irritate dry mouths alike alcohol or coffee.

Getting old isn’t easy but it can be made easier with the right preventative care.  If you are, or know, a senior who requires dental care contact us at Pickering Square Dental today and we’ll be happy to assist.