Drinking Kombucha can affect your oral health!

What is Kombucha?

Kombucha is a fermented, slightly bubbly black or green tea that may improve immunity, boost energy levels, and aid in proper digestion, among many other claims. The drink is bottled and sold commercially and is widely available in a variety of flavors and brands, but it can also be made at home through a simple fermentation process.

What Can It Do to Your Teeth?

Kombucha is very acidic, even more so than regular green or black tea. In fact, it is nearly as acidic as Coke or Pepsi. Acid beverages can lead to enamel erosion and create an environment in the mouth where cavity-causing bacteria thrive. This can lead to bad breath, weakened enamel, and the increased likelihood of cavities.

How Do You Minimize Its Effects on Your Teeth?

If you enjoy drinking kombucha (as I do) and want to continue to reap the health benefits associated with it, the good news is that you can minimize the damage it causes to your teeth while still drinking it regularly:

• Opt for unsweetened versions. Choose unsweetened brands or ferment your own at home

• Drink it all at once. This is better than sipping kombucha throughout the day and prolonging the acidity levels in your mouth

• Rinse with water. It's a good idea to rinse your mouth out with water afterwards to wash away some of the acid and residual sugars.

• Brush your teeth. It’s always wise to brush after any meal or beverage that isn’t plain water, BUT it’s ideal to wait about half an hour before doing so. If you brush immediately afterwards, you can actually spread some of the residue around your mouth so the best technique is to rinse with water immediately afterwards and then wait about 30 minutes for some of the

residue to dissolve before brushing