Summer Drink Ideas for a Healthy Mouth

The summer months can throw your entire family off when it comes to the routines you maintain throughout the rest of the year. At picnics and parties it’s especially easy to reach for ice cold, sugary drinks when the temperatures soar. However, gulping down soda, lemonade, sweetened iced tea, or other sugary beverages all summer long can be detrimental to your oral health.

The good news is, you needn’t give up on the thought of refreshing beverages to keep you comfortable throughout the summer months. There are plenty of low-sugar and sugar-free options to satisfy your sweet tooth. Here are a few summer drink ideas that are sure to please the entire family without harming your oral health.

Infused Water

Hydration is important when the weather is hot, so water is always an excellent choice, not only for your oral health, but your overall health, as well. Still, you might want to kick it up a notch, and the best way to make your water more exciting is by creating delicious infusions. How is this done?

You’ll be surprised how easy it is. All you need to start is a pitcher filled with about five cups of water and one cup of ice cubes. From there you can experiment with adding fresh fruit and herbs to create concoctions that dazzle the palate.

Classics combos include melon balls or citrus fruit and mint, berries and basil or rosemary, or tropical favorites like pineapple and coconut or mango and papaya. You should shoot for about a cup of fruit and 5-10 sprigs or leaves of herbs, depending on the size. Add some lemon or lime for extra zing. Allow mixtures to chill for a few hours to really infuse the water with flavor.

Unsweetened Iced Tea

What’s more summery than sun tea? If you like to drink bottled tea, you should know that these products could feature added sugars. Even if they don’t, they might not have the healthy antioxidants that boost the nutritive properties of this beverage.

The answer is to make your own sun tea, just like your Grannie used to. Just fill a gallon glass tea jug with water (reserving room to add ice later) and add 8 tea bags. You can choose black tea for a kick of caffeine or green tea for a different flavor and a milder boost. Let the tea sit in direct sunlight for about 3-5 hours (depending on how strong you like it). Remove tea bags and add ice and possibly lemons or berries before stashing it in the fridge to chill. Enjoy these summer beverages and you’re sure to impress your dentist during your next checkup.

Keep in mind that tea, coffee, soda, and wine all have staining agents that could potentially stain your teeth. We recommend consuming them in moderation!

Don’t hesitate to contact us with questions or to schedule an appointment today.

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