Fluid Intake

frank777

I'm no dentist, but if you brush/floss your teeth twice a day - morning & before bed at night and avoid fruit teas before bedtime, then you avoid damage from the acidic content?

Maybe some dentist can advise, for now maybe I'll get a reusable glass drinking straw - Eco Friendly

Diplomat Berry Fruits Tea Bags
INCREDIENTS: Hibiscus, Apple Pomace, Blackberry Leaves, Flavourings, RASPBERRY FIBRES, (0.5%), STRAWBERRY FIBRES (0.5%), CRANBERRY FIBRES (0.5%), Rosehip.

Is there a doctor/dentist in the house (forum) :eek:

flutterbyuk25

suejb2 wrote: »

I now drink from a water infusion bottle. Favourite flavour is lemon and like, orange second. Soft fruit not too tasty, cucumber yuk. But try what you want.

This. I like water, but since having an infusion bottle my consumption has more than doubled!

Buy a water infusion bottle (under £3 in Wilko). Once a fortnight chop up a couple of lemons/limes/oranges/berries and freeze in a tub. Each morning add a few to the bottle, takes seconds to do. Or if you leave your bottle in work, freeze in small bags and take a bag with you.

There are lots of free apps to remind you to drink water which you can download to remind you to take a drink.

It takes 21 days to make/break a habit so persevere!

selement

Would no added sugar ribena be good? I think people worry too much about being 'perfect' for health/weight loss foods and drinks, if it's an improvement over usual diet surely it's still beneficial?
I have a friend who always complains about diet coke etc, but as I used to have the full fat version I think in terms of weight loss it's an improvement but he doesn't see it that way says it's just as bad. Switching to water exclusively would mean me never drinking anywhere near enough. I think figure out a low sugar answer that works for you

Perfectionists will always say drink only water.

brook2jack

frank777 wrote: »

I'm no dentist, but if you brush/floss your teeth twice a day - morning & before bed at night and avoid fruit teas before bedtime, then you avoid damage from the acidic content?

Maybe some dentist can advise, for now maybe I'll get a reusable glass drinking straw - Eco Friendly

Diplomat Berry Fruits Tea Bags
INCREDIENTS: Hibiscus, Apple Pomace, Blackberry Leaves, Flavourings, RASPBERRY FIBRES, (0.5%), STRAWBERRY FIBRES (0.5%), CRANBERRY FIBRES (0.5%), Rosehip.

Is there a doctor/dentist in the house (forum) :eek:

Brushing your teeth immediately after eating or drinking something sweet or acidic makes no difference to the acidity but it increases the damage done as you are rubbing the acid into the enamel . It takes roughly an hour for the PH (acidity) in the mouth to return to normal regardless of whether teeth are brushed or not. In the case of sugar you would be best advised to brush before eating/drinking to reduce the bacterial load.

Each time you take even a sip of a drink that is acidic or sugary it takes an hour for the mouth to return to normal. Fruit tea bags are about as acidic as orange juice or coke a and most have sugar content as well.

The only thing that might help is to eat a piece of cheese after drinking as that coats the teeth and lowers the ph. However having water in sports bottles etc encourages sipping which is fine unless the drink is acidic or sugary in which case your teeth are under attack by acid all day.

Elite sports and and particularly cyclists often have terrible teeth because of the use of drinks in sports bottles that are acidic or sugary.

helcat26

I think it would be reasonable to say that in the same way that we have established that not all fruit tea is the same in terms of sugar content (ie teabags low, instant high) then it is reasonable to say that not all fruit teas are the same in terms of acidity.


It is also fair to say that every food or beverage that you put in your mouth has the potential to alter the pH (including water as tap water can be acidic), this not only being a function of the food itself but also the actions of the enzymes in the mouth working on the food.


So unless you are not going to eat or drink to preserve your teeth then you have to make the best choices you can- avoiding exposure to obvious high sugar, avoiding food or drink high in ascorbic acid.


Equally however it is not constructive in this case to make sweeping generalizations about types of food or drink without specific content information- I do not think the daily mail is a viable reference! We have established that the OP does not like drinking plain water and are exploring the least harmful options.


A dehydrated body and mouth is also an unhealthy situation

brook2jack

Here is a link to original research. There is more up to date research from Bristol but the general public cannot access that http://www.oralhealth.ro/volumes/2010/volume-2/V2-10-4.pdf
The point is all fruit teas had a ph of below 3.5 lower than orange juice.


Camomile , mint and many herbal teas are neutral or alkali and have risk to teeth.

Fruit teas are almost universally acidic , some highly so and are a recognised risk for enamel erosion.


There are many drinks that are excellent for general and dental health eg plain tea, green tea etc.

Most drinks , including fruit teas, will be fine once a day or with meals BUT if you are looking at drinks that are going to be sipped at all day in order to "hydrate" there are considerations that you would not make for beverages drunk all at once. Here are some photos of the sort of damage acid erosion causes http://www.crestmeaddental.com.au/crestmead-dental-blog

choyaa

Ribena is almost done, at present I have two coffees and three glasses of Ribena when at work, perhaps changing one glass of Ribena to water would be a positive start. I do like the idea water infusion bottles so I may look into these too.

Ben84

I like tap water with ice and a few slices of lemon and/or lime. Sometimes soda water, but can't drink as much of that. I live in an old house and have metal pipes - but find the plastic ones in newer houses taste weird. Anyway, I imagine the sugar added from a few slices of citrus fruit is exceptionally minor. It's going to be a bit acidic however, but I try to put it in perspective, because I have gone years since my last filling, and the one before that, so I don't worry too much about it. To be fair though, I don't drink water with lemon all day, it's for meals, or if I'm feeling like something fancier. Generally, I drink tap water while working, but I suppose if you can enjoy water with lemon or lime during a meal, it's a chance to drink a glass of water.

megaginge

Just drink water.

You'll get used to it ...

Jees

AnnieO1234

choyaa wrote: »

Ribena is almost done, at present I have two coffees and three glasses of Ribena when at work, perhaps changing one glass of Ribena to water would be a positive start. I do like the idea water infusion bottles so I may look into these too.

You only have five cups/glasses during the working day? How about before work and after? I am genuinely shocked that you're surviving on so little fluid. FWIW I drink full fat coke as my main hydration method, have no fillings, drink copious amounts and am a size 8-10. My point is there is so much more to it than simply do x, y or z.

Xxx