10 Drinks Ranked: Best And Worst For Your Teeth

In this guide, we’re going to look at 10 different beverage choices, ranked from best to worst. Even the worst drinks on this list can be enjoyed in moderation. It’s also possible to enjoy some of them provided you are aware that they might cause dental staining.

As a parent, it can be difficult to navigate the best drinks to give your child. If you can convince them to be satisfied with water, then you’ll set them on the right track for improved oral health throughout their life. Children that get a taste for sweet drinks at a young age might struggle to turn their back on this habit as they get older.

1. Water

At the top of the list for the healthiest option for your oral health and your body is water. The simplest way to make better choices for your oral health is to switch to water for hydration. Experts recommend drinking around 2 litres of water per day, but most of us don’t even come close to this target.

Drinking enough water can also help you to avoid snacking between meals. On lots of occasions, when you think you are hungry you are actually a little bit thirsty. So, before you reach for a snack, try drinking a glass of water to see if that gets rid of your “hunger”.

2. Milk

Milk and dairy is a great choice as it is packed with calcium which is essential for bone health and strong enamel. Milk will also neutralise the acids in your mouth and help to remineralise your enamel, which can offer some protection.

It’s not only milk that offers these benefits. Yoghurt drinks can also be beneficial for the teeth. While these won’t be as thirst-quenching as a glass of water, they can be enjoyed as an occasional treat.

3. Fizzy water

If you like your drinks to be just a little bit more interesting, you could try adding fizzy water to your daily routine. There’s a lot of misinformation about fizzy water being bad for your teeth, but this isn’t the case.

Provided you choose unsweetened and unflavoured fizzy water, it shouldn’t have any impact on your oral health.

4. Coconut water

A low sugar coconut water is a great way to quench your thirst while protecting your teeth. It is loaded with potassium, calcium and magnesium which are all great for your teeth and for your wider health.

Coconut water is a brilliant source of electrolytes, so it can be used as a sports drink to restore hydration after exercise. This is a much better choice than many of the glucose-packed alternatives.

5. Sugar free cordial

If you really hate the taste of plain water, you could try adding a small amount of sugar free cordial to your glass. This will help to bring a touch of flavour without the sugar associated with juice or fizzy drinks.

When it comes to making choices for your oral health, sometimes you need to find a comfortable middle ground.

6. Carrot juice

Juice might be loaded with vitamins, but it’s also often packed with sugar. And when you juice your fruits, you miss out on the fibre that makes them so good for your health. To counter this, consider trying carrot juice as a compromise. It’s still sweet, delicious and packed with vitamins, but it has a fraction of the sugar and none of the acidity that can attack your teeth.

7. Coffee

Coffee isn’t great for your teeth due to the acidity and the staining particles. It’s also possible to add lots of sugar to your drinks – particularly when you order from popular chain coffee shops. Black coffee or coffee with a splash of milk and non sugar can be enjoyed in moderation. Just remember that this option is likely to cause some staining, so you might want to book a professional whitening treatment.

8. Energy drinks

We’re now reaching the realms of drinks that you should really avoid. Energy drinks are often packed with sugar and are highly acidic. This means they will attack the enamel on your teeth and could also cause staining.

Energy drinks also contain high levels of caffeine which could impact your ability to absorb vitamins and minerals from your food. For example, did you know that caffeine impacts your ability to absorb iron, ​​manganese, zinc and copper from food? It also increases the rate at which your body gets rid of magnesium, potassium, sodium and phosphate.

9. Full-sugar fizzy pop

Fizzy drinks are bad for your teeth and bad for your health in general. First, the sugar will attack your teeth and encourage bacteria in your mouth to multiply. Fizzy drinks are also full of staining particles, which penetrate deep into the teeth and cause discolouration that can only be removed with professional teeth whitening.

10. Kombucha

Perhaps the worst drink you can have for your oral health is one that is actually very good for your gut health. Kombucha and vinegar-based health drinks like switchel are extremely bad for your teeth due to the highly acidic nature of these fermented beverages. If you do decide to enjoy kombucha, make sure this is in moderation. You can also drink it through a straw to help limit contact with your teeth.

Final thoughts on drinks for oral health

If you’re feeling thirsty, your best bet is to reach for a glass of water. This is the simplest way to stay hydrated without harming your teeth. If you decide you want something a little more interesting, reach for drinks that are free from sugar and low acidity.

If you do decide to enjoy drinks that might damage your teeth or cause staining, consider drinking through a straw to limit the damage.