Protein shakes are a trendy meal supplement that can offer many wellness benefits. Whether you want to boost your nutrition or build muscle, a protein drink can help you improve your health. But these popular beverages could pose a risk to your oral health if you are not careful.
However, you do not have to give up your favorite beverage in order to maintain good dental health. Read on to find advice from your Rogers, AR dentist on how to keep your smile looking and feeling its best while you enjoy protein shakes.
How to Protect Your Smile While Drinking Protein Shakes
Get Rid of Gritty Residue
When you drink a protein shake, you might notice that the beverage leaves a gritty film over your teeth. This is because the protein comes in a powder form that can easily cling to the teeth. This can feel gross or uncomfortable, but this residue, along with any lingering food particles, can also pose a threat to your dental health.
If food or residues stay on your teeth, they contribute to plaque formation. This film will then eat away at your dental structure, putting your teeth at risk for cavities and other dental problems.
You can remove the grit from your teeth by brushing and flossing during your oral hygiene regimen. If you cannot complete this routine, you can also rinse away the residue by drinking a glass of water.
Avoid Added Sugar Content
Protein shakes usually consist of protein powder mixed with a liquid (like milk) and other ingredients, including yogurt, fruits, or nuts. But these drinks might also include sugar to enhance their flavor. Sugar is notoriously harmful to your teeth.
This is because sugar becomes acidic when it reacts with your saliva, and it can then erode your tooth enamel, causing irreversible dental damage. For this reason, you should avoid added sugar wherever possible, including in your protein shakes.
Check the listed ingredients if you purchase protein shakes from your local shop. If you make your own protein shakes, try to find alternative ways to make your drink taste great. Cinnamon can make a good substitute for sugar, for example.
Continue Good Oral Hygiene
If you practice healthy oral habits, your smile can better resist potential damage from the items you eat and drink. So to enjoy protein shakes with minimized consequences, continue proper oral hygiene at home.
This will entail brushing your teeth at least twice each day and flossing every day. You should also schedule regular teeth cleanings and oral exams to get the most preventative dental care. During these visits, a dentist will scrape away plaque and tartar build-up in hard-to-reach spots of the mouth like near the gumline.
Poor oral hygiene can make your teeth more vulnerable to dental threats, such as enamel erosion from food items. Make your smile more resistant to dental damage by adhering to good oral hygiene.