Wellness experts preach good overall health benefits from protein shakes. Whether you want to build muscle or boost nutrition, you can discover many advantages to your well-being from these beverages. These drinks blend protein powder with fruits, juices, dairy products, and other foods for a delicious and healthy beverage.
However, you might not realize that protein drinks could pose a threat to your oral health if you do not pay attention to your smile. To avoid aesthetic or structural dental problems, continue healthy oral habits, especially if you consume protein shakes. Read on to find tips from your dentist that can keep your smile looking and feeling its best without giving up your favorite beverages and supplements.
Remove Gritty Build-Up from Teeth
After you drink a protein shake, you might notice a gritty film over your teeth. The protein powder will frequently cling to your teeth to leave that residue behind on your smile.
Not only will this feel unpleasant, but it could put your teeth in danger. Following a meal, you often will have lingering food particles in your mouth. These particles will feed natural oral bacteria, contributing to plaque formation.
This is why practicing oral hygiene is so important. Otherwise, leftover residues will eat away at your dental structure, putting you in danger of cavities and other dental problems. If you can feel that gritty build-up on your smile, then there is enough residue there to cause dental damage.
Brushing your teeth and flossing will get rid of this film and make your smile clean again. But if you do not have access to your oral hygiene supplies, you can also rinse your mouth by drinking water. Eradicating these residues from your mouth has the added benefit of preventing bad breath as well.
Avoid High Sugar Content
You may feel tempted to make your protein taste sweeter by adding sugar to your drink. While the resulting sweet flavor may seem appealing, sugar notoriously hurts your teeth. Sugar becomes acidic when it reacts with saliva, and the resulting acid will erode the enamel of your teeth.
Lost enamel does not regrow, and your weakened teeth may be highly susceptible to tooth decay and other dental issues. So avoid added sugar where you can, including in your protein shakes, in order to preserve your natural dental structure.
If you do not make your own protein shakes, check the ingredients of the drinks that you purchase from the shop. The label will list the amount of sugar in the beverage so that you can make sure you do not buy a brand with a high sugar content.
Adhere to Good Oral Hygiene
You know that you will need to complete proper oral hygiene after you consume protein shakes to keep your smile healthy. But to ensure your teeth stay strong enough to fight potential dangers from these drinks or other food items, you should adhere to a consistent oral hygiene regimen.
Brush your teeth at least twice per day and floss on a daily basis to remove harmful residues that could otherwise harm your smile. Attend regular teeth cleanings at your dentist’s office too. Then your teeth can retain strong enamel that will better resist staining, decay, and more.