QUENCH YOUR THIRST WITH ALTERNATIVES TO JUICE, POP

Lakeport Dental staff are firm believers in educating our clients about their oral health. We want everyone to be able to make good choices when it comes to staying hydrated and protecting their smiles.

In Western culture, we have so many choices for food and drink items, it’s almost embarrassing.nChoices for drinking items, in particular, are so plentiful, it’s often hard to choose.

Lakeport Dental staff know that we are creatures of habit, so when we reach for something to quench our thirst, it’s going to be something we can easily get, without thinking too much about what it contains or what it might do to us.

Here’s where our education program comes in: If you choose to quench your thirst with anything other than water - and there are smart choices out there - you may be compromising your oral and overall health.

Beverages containing caffeine, dyes, sugars and which are rich in calories should be taken in moderation only, not used for regular hydration. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying an after-meal tea or coffee - just take care of your oral health, too, by sticking to a regular rinsing, brushing and flossing routine.
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We can almost hear you asking: “So, what are some healthy alternatives to our favourite sweet juices and sticky soda pops?”

GLAD YOU ASKED!

Lakeport Dental staff have come up with a list of alternatives to high-sugared, high-calorie drinks, some of which are so tasty, you may find yourselves with new favourites! Here goes:
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• - Fruit-infused water or sparkling water: If water isn’t your thing, try infusing it with your favourite fruit, or a very small amount of fruit juice to add flavour. It’s refreshing and simple to make at home.


• - On a hot day, try a cool, home-brewed iced green tea. Unsweetened is best, but if you need a hit of sweet, you are in control of the amount of sugar that goes into it. Try flavouring with fruit or honey for a delicious alternative. Iced tea made with fruit-based decaffeinated tea is delicious, too. Hot versions of fruit-based teas are simple to make, and are just as comforting as a hot, sweet, black tea.


• - Coconut water, a fairly trendy beverage, can now be found at most grocery stores. Careful, though: Some brands of coconut water are overly sweetened, so take care to search out the kind with few or no additives.


• - If you are a coffee addict, try switching out one caffeine-rich treat a day to half hot milk, half coffee. It gives your treat an international flavour, and the milk is good for you, too. Even better is when you try making this with a strong decaf coffee.


• - Love those sweet, pricey iced-coffee drinks? You can make them at home using your blender and a couple of simple ingredients: Start with milk, a little coffee, a dash of cream and a couple of teaspoons of plain yogurt. Swirl in a blender with a couple of ice cubes, and you’ll have your own unsweetened, low-calorie version of a high-calorie favourite. Add sugar if you must, but try it first without, just because you might really like it!


• - Veggie juice, which can be made at home in the blender, can be a mixture of fruit, vegetables, water and your own flavourings, such as ginger or other spices. It’s easy to make, but does require some planning when shopping. You’ll add fibre to your diet and curb your afternoon appetite with one home-made veggie juice.


• - Lemonade, a summertime favourite, is simple to make and doesn’t require nearly as much sugar as some recipes call for. Try cutting the sugar in half or lower, and we bet you’ll enjoy it just as much as the full-sugar version. Low-sugar lemonade mixed with low-sugar iced tea is also very refreshing, and is easily mixed up in your own kitchen. Get creative with your flavourings, adding ginger, frozen melon balls or frozen raspberries to your lemonade creation.
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Lakeport Dental staff have come up with some great alternatives to drinking juice and pop during the day. When you think about it, grabbing something healthy is really as easy as grabbing the can of soda from the fridge.

Good oral health habits paired with a reduction in the consumption of sweet drinks should make you smile - we know for sure we’ll be smiling, the next time you come to see us!

To share your juice and soda pop alternatives or book an appointment, call 905-934-0235.

​You can also request to schedule an appointment via our website at the following link:      

Click Here!

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