Drinking Soda the “Right” Way
[from Health.com November 2007]
A straw can keep your teeth from getting stained by tea and cola, but there are big down sides. All
that puckering could lead to wrinkles around your lips-just like you see on the mouths of smokers ... And, really
, who wants to sip her pinot or a steaming mug of hot coffee through a straw? To have your white teeth and espresso, too, brush
after first swishing for one minute with an over-the-counter rinse that contains 0.05 percent sodium fluoride . . ., or an
anti-cavity fluoride rinse. Why the rinse? Drinks that stain the teeth are acidic, which softens the outer layer of
tooth enamel. Brushing too soon after enjoying a high-acid drink can actually wear away that softened enamel, something that can
lead to tooth sensitivity, says Edmond R. Hewlett, DDS, associate professor at the University of California,
Los Angeles, School of Dentistry. Minerals in your saliva naturally reharden your enamel within a couple of hours
; the fluoride rinse just helps speed that up. If there's no time to rinse, just wait a few hours before brushing.