We’ve all heard that candy, soft drinks and foods high in sugar and acid will cause cavities, but will juicing cause tooth decay also? Most of us could easily fit in a smoothie a day, especially when incorporating routine exercise. But, should we be concerned that the natural sugars can damage the enamel on our teeth as well?

It is certainly true that the natural sugars in fruit feed bacteria in your mouth. If you don’t rid your teeth from the bacteria with proper oral hygiene, this could develop into tooth decay and other oral health problems. Along with the high sugar content, the chlorophyll found in vegetable juices can lead to tooth staining. Chlorophyll is a green photosynthetic pigment found in green, leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale that are often added to green smoothies.

Here are a tips to keeping your teeth healthy and stain-free while still enjoying all the health benefits that juicing has to offer:

• Drink through a straw. This will minimize direct contact of the sugars and substances that are harmful to your teeth.
• Add cranberries to your smoothie. Cranberries have an anti-cavity chemical that prevents bacteria from binding to the teeth.
• Rinse your mouth with water following your juice. This will help flush the bacteria from the teeth. Also drinking water throughout the day will keep your body hydrated, which will keep your mouth from being dry and prone to harboring more bacteria that causes decay.
• Maintain proper oral hygiene. Stay on top of your home dental care. Brushing twice a day and flossing one a day will rid your mouth of the sugars, acids, bacteria and debris that lead to erosion of the enamel.

And finally, make sure you stay on top of your regular checkups as another preventative measure. At South Tampa Smiles, we want all of our patients to be healthy and happy. Give us a call for your cleaning and exam at (813) 289 – 0560. Our friendly staff is ready to assist you.

Further Reading on Will juicing cause tooth decay?

Read more about cranberries and oral health