San Francisco, Marin, and Oakland, CA
Kombucha, a fermented beverage packed with probiotics, has recently surfaced as a popular wellness drink. While there are certainly health benefits to drinking it, many wonder if kombucha is bad for their teeth. Your Bay Area dentist is going to discuss what is kombucha, if it will harm your teeth, and how to protect your teeth when drinking it.
What is kombucha?
Kombucha is made from fermented sweet tea that contains a colony of bacteria and yeast, hence the probiotic nature of the drink. This beverage has been used as a natural remedy for many ailments for hundreds of years. After the sweet tea is brewed, and the sugar added, a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) is added to allow the liquid tincture to ferment. After the fermenting process, it becomes carbonated and contains vinegar, enzymes, B vitamins, probiotics, and a high concentration of acetic, gluconic, and lactic acids.
Is kombucha healthy for you?
There are many claims that kombucha has healing properties and promotes health. Its antioxidants help fight inflammation, which is the root of most all diseases, and it helps repair oxidative stress of cells. Because of its high levels of beneficial acids, probiotics, enzymes, and amino acids, it is thought to promote a healthy gut by counteracting the free radicals in our stomachs that result from all of the junk we consume. Many people opt for kombucha over choosing soda, given its many health benefits and that it is relatively low in sugar compared to its soda counterparts.
So, here is the question…..is kombucha bad for your teeth?
The downside to kombucha is that is it fairly acidic, which can cause damage to your dental enamel just like soda does. On the other hand, this doesn’t mean that the benefits aren’t worth the risk. Perhaps a better way to enjoy your kombucha is to drink it all in one sitting. Consistently bathing your teeth in any type of acidic beverage – be it soda, orange juice, or kombucha, is simply not a wise decision. Instead, drink it up in one sitting and be done. Rinse out your mouth with water if you are unable to brush your teeth afterward. Also, it is a wise choice to wait about 30 minutes after consuming an acidic beverage before you do brush your teeth.
The conclusion
Your family dentists in the Bay Area certainly understand the health benefits of drinking kombucha. And, although there is a risk of this healthy tincture increasing your risk of acid erosion of your dental enamel, just be sure to consume it in one sitting, and remember to rinse out your mouth with plain water afterward. That way, you can still reap the health benefits of kombucha without ruining your teeth.
Family Dentist in the Bay Area
Glen Park Dental offers an array of treatments for general and cosmetic dentistry. If you would like to schedule an appointment or have questions about how you can protect your oral health, contact our office by calling (415) 585-1500.
Glen Park Dental is proud to serve the oral health needs of patients in Marin, Oakland, and San Francisco, California.
