Smoothies and Teeth

What blending changes

When fruit is blended, its cell walls are broken apart and the sugars that were held inside become freely available. A smoothie also often contains several fruits at once, so you may be drinking more fruit than you would sit down and eat. Dental organizations advise limiting how often sugary and acidic things touch the teeth, and smoothies can fall on both counts.

That said, a smoothie is not the same as a soda. It can contain fiber, protein and other food components. The point is not to label it good or bad, but to see where the risk for teeth actually sits.

The sipping problem

The biggest factor is usually time. A smoothie taken as a quick breakfast leaves one episode of sugar and acid. The same drink carried through a commute and a morning of meetings keeps feeding that cycle with every sip, and saliva never gets a break to recover.

If you like to take your time, consider portioning instead: a smaller glass, finished in one sitting, rather than a large cup that stays at your desk. Fewer exposures matter more than the exact ingredients.

Building a smoothie that is easier on teeth

You have plenty of room to adjust a recipe without losing the point of it. Small swaps lower the sugar and acid load per glass and add ingredients that make the drink more filling, so you are less tempted to keep sipping.

Everyone's taste differs, so treat these as options to try rather than a fixed formula.

• Use fewer fruits and more leafy greens or cucumber
• Add plain unsweetened yogurt, milk or a nut butter
• Go easy on citrus and pineapple, which are more acidic
• Skip added syrups, honey and sweetened juices as the base
• Use water or milk instead of fruit juice as the liquid

Do straws and rinsing help?

A straw can reduce how much of a drink washes over the front teeth, though it does not remove sugar and acid from the mouth entirely, and swirling the drink around undoes the benefit. It is a modest help, not a fix.

A more dependable step is rinsing with plain water when you finish. Wait a while before brushing, since acid can leave the surface softer, and use fluoride toothpaste when you do. Cleaning between the teeth once a day still matters, as smoothie bits can lodge in tight spaces.

Where supplements fit, and where the dentist does

Some readers wonder whether a probiotic supplement offsets sugary drinks. ProDentim, which the seller describes as a chewable oral probiotic, is one example, but research on oral probiotics is still developing and mixed, and it is not a substitute for brushing, flossing or limiting sugar. Check with a doctor, dentist or pharmacist first if you are pregnant, nursing, on medication or have a condition.

See a dentist if you notice new sensitivity, pain, bleeding gums, swelling, loose teeth, a sore that will not heal, or a bad taste or breath that persists. Mention how often you drink smoothies so they can give advice that suits you.

Questions readers ask