Watch Out for Carb Filled Cocktails!

By Jill Feilmeier on April 9, 2013 in Healthy Living

Summer is quickly approaching and I bet you can't wait to have a cocktail on a warm evening with your friends.

Feel like a frozen margarita (300-500 calories)? A pina colada (300-400 calories)? Or a tasty chocolatini for a whopping 500 calories? Not only are these drinks bad for your waistline, they are sugary and acidic – a lethal combination for your teeth.

Frequent consumption of sugary drinks will demineralize and weaken tooth enamel, the first step in tooth decay. When you drink sugary beverages and eat starchy foods, you're not only feeding yourself—you're feeding the plaque that can cause cavities in your mouth.

While many foods invite tooth decay, some are worse for you than others. Here are some ingredients you want to avoid during cocktail hour:

• Carbonated soft drinks and cocktails with fruit juice may contain high amounts of sugar that can erode the enamel on your teeth.

• Lemon and citrus fruits. Do you have a piece of fruit and an umbrella in your cocktail? Eat them, but don't suck them. The high acid content in citrus fruits also attacks your teeth.

You don't have to completely deprive yourself of summer drink goodness. Just keep this advice in mind and be sure to brush your teeth carefully after each meal. To get you started on a sugar-free indulgence, try this sugar-free cocktail.