Many people who have tried to juice for several days in a row have probably learned of ways to make their vegetable juice taste better. Juice that is primarily green (meaning that all the vegetables used are green vegetables) is typically very “earthy” in flavor, which can be difficult to get used to. A popular way to make green juice a little more palatable is to add items that are either sweet or tart, such as lemons, apples, carrots, or grapes. These flavors can work together to dull the potent taste of a green-only juice and make your pursuit of a healthier body all the more enjoyable. This sounds like a win-win situation, right?
One drawback to adding fruit to your green juice is that you are also adding quite a bit of concentrated sugar. The sugar in fruit juice can more easily stick to your teeth and fill in all the little crevices in your mouth where bacteria are prone to fester. These bacteria convert the sugar to acid, which can easily erode your tooth enamel or irritate your gums and cause infection. Although juicers should beware of this effect, they should not lose hope. Below are a few ways to prevent the damage that can occur from fruit juices.
How to Prevent Tooth Enamel Damage that Can Result from Juicing
- Juice only vegetables. Avoiding fruit juice altogether completely avoids the risk of tooth decay caused by sugar. However, this may be difficult for many people.
- Drink your juice quickly or through a straw. Swishing the juice in your mouth or taking a while to swallow gives the sugar more of a chance to stick to your teeth.
- Wash down your juice with a glass of water. This will eliminate most of the residue that easily sticks to your teeth.
- Brush your teeth, but not immediately after drinking your juice. The sugar from the juice will convert to acid, which temporarily softens tooth enamel. You do not want to brush your teeth at this point because brushing soft enamel can wear it away and cause tooth sensitivity.
- Skip juicing and eat whole fruits and vegetables. While this option causes you to miss out on the many benefits of juicing, it may be worth it if your juice cleanse is significantly impacting your healthy smile.
Even people who religiously brush their teeth and watch their sugar intake can suffer from gum disease or tooth decay. Dr. Sands offers many options, like porcelain veneers, dental bonding, or Zoom!® teeth whitening, to return your smile to its original health and beauty.
To schedule a consultation with Beverly Hills Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Kevin Sands, please call 310-273-0111 or fill out our online contact form today.