How Hot Drinks Affect Your Teeth During Pumpkin Spice Season

As the year draws to a close, many of us will be fending off the cooler weather with a piping mug of our favorite festive beverage. It’s the perfect season to enjoy hot chocolate, freshly brewed tea, warm apple cider, and the ever-popular pumpkin spiced latte. However, have you considered how these warm beverages are changing your teeth? Read on to find out how some of your favorite hot drinks are impacting your oral health and what you can do to keep your smile healthy throughout pumpkin spice season.

Increased Risk of Tooth Decay

With all the readily available sweet treats and drinks, the fall and winter months can be a particularly tough time of year for your teeth. If you’re sipping hot coffee with fall-flavored sweeteners all morning long or drinking hot coco into the night, you’re providing a constant stream of fuel for cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth. The more often you consume these sugary beverages, the higher your risk is of tooth decay.

Staining & Discoloration

Tea, coffee, and pumpkin spice lattes contain molecules called tannins. These highly pigmented particles are notorious for seeping into the porous texture of enamel and causing stubborn discoloration. Tannin stains are resistant to toothbrushing and can significantly diminish the brightness of your smile if you drink beverages with them all season long!

Enamel Wear

Sugary sweet drinks aren’t the only beverages that can hurt your smile this season. Apple cider, holiday teas, and black coffee without sweeteners can still damage your teeth. These beverages are all highly acidic, which means they can burn through your enamel very quickly. Not only does this leave you susceptible to tooth decay and discoloration, but it increases your risk of broken, sensitive teeth.

Tips for Protecting Your Smile This Season

Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to maintain great oral health while enjoying your favorite fall drinks! This pumpkin spice season, keep these tips in mind:

• Use a straw: While it may seem unusual at first, drinking hot beverages through a straw will protect your teeth from direct contact with acidic, cavity-causing particles.
• Drink lots of water: Drinking plain water with your holiday beverages will wash away any lingering residue to keep your smile sparkling and healthy.
• Use fluoridated dental products: Fluoridated toothpastes and mouthwashes will fortify your enamel and help your teeth resist decay.
• Schedule your biannual dental checkup: Seeing your dentist twice a year will allow them to spot and stop any issues as early as possible to help your mouth stay healthy this season.

You don’t have to give up your pumpkin spice lattes to maintain great oral health! Keep these tips in mind while enjoying your hot holiday drinks to protect your smile all season long.

About the Practice

At Purple Plum Dentistry, we strive to help the smiles of Falls Church, VA and the surrounding communities stay healthy and bright all year long. That’s why we encourage everyone to get a routine checkup and cleaning twice a year! With state-of-the-art technology, high quality preventive care, and our experienced dental team, we aim to treat oral health issues before they have a chance to ruin your holiday season. To learn more, we can be contacted via our website or at (703) 998-4244.