Latte Decay
Greetings everyone,
Check out this article about increased tooth decay related to coffee drinks. As with most foods and drinks that contain sugar (and that includes the lactose in milk) prolonged exposure increases your risk of developing cavities. So, rather than sip on several cups of coffee over several hours, try to drink it more quickly. There are simple ways, aside from your normal routine, to help prevent decay as well. First is to drink water in combination with your sugary drink or food. The water helps netralize the acid released by bacteria that cause cavities. Also, chew sugar free gum with xylitol as an ingredient. In addition to stimulating salivary flow (which helps limit decay), it has been found that xylitol is non-cariogenic. This means that the bacteria that cause cavities cannot metabolize the xylitol therefore the incidence of cavities decreases. Just a little food for thought.
Anyway, all you venti three pump caramel macchiato drinkers out there (and I can be one of them), check out this article and don’t hesitate to ask questions, I’ll be sure to get back to you.
–Andrew
I love, love, love my coffee (black, or if I get espresso, with cream) and never add sugar. I like your advice to drink the coffee in a shorter time period, versus sipping it all day long. I also drink lots of water throughout the day and would never eat or drink anything acidic within 15 minutes of brushing my teeth. Thanks for the tips!