Acidic foods are prevalent and because they are mostly very palatable, or worse, have profound health benefits, it could be easy to ignore the long-term effects on your teeth.
Acid erodes the teeth by decalcifying the enamel and, therefore, digging through the dentin, the slightly yellower layer the enamel protects; this could lead to dental issues like increased sensitivity. Furthermore, exposed dentin is easier to erode, leading to decay. So, if you continue to consume acidic foods and drinks, chances are your teeth would be non-existent faster than you can predict! What, then, should you avoid?
1. Naturals/Fresh Fruits
For centuries, most natural foods and drinks like Kombucha, vinegar, or fresh fruits like lemon and lime have exhibited health properties. However, research has shown that the citric acid found in citrus fruits has a pH well below 5. They also have a more complex enamel erosion pattern; this shows that citrus fruits could very well be the worst group of fruits for our oral health. For better measure, you could contact little bay invisalign provider to discuss how to consume these medicinal fruits and drinks without harming your enamel.
2. Alcohol/Wine
There’s no problem if you need a sip or two to take the edge off, but excess alcohol could be detrimental to your overall health and could even be worse for your oral health. The mouth needs saliva to clear out the bacteria and plaque that builds up in your oral cavity; alcohol dries it up, affecting your oral health. Additionally, most alcoholic drinks are highly acidic, especially wine, reaching acidity levels of up to 3! With this level of acidity, I’ll tell you this: you might as well get a chisel and dig at your enamel.
3. Jam/Jelly
Who doesn’t like a nice peanut butter and jelly sandwich? (hmmm!) We all do!
However, even if you ignore the heavy carb of a slice of bread or the sugary, sticky peanut butter, jams are very sugary. Combine that with how acidic some types of jams, like citrus jams, could be, and you get a well on your tooth.
Of course, it is impossible to ignore these foods/drinks entirely, and it is why experts have suggested easy solutions:
- Reduce direct contact with the teeth: avoid pressing fruits to your teeth for extended periods. For drinks, consider using a straw; it gets the liquid directly into your throat.
- Swish and rinse with water immediately after consumption: water (not sparkling water) could get the saliva moving and balance the mouth’s pH. Be sure to wait 30 minutes for the enamel to solidify before brushing.
- Chew something: to induce saliva production. Saliva will balance the oral pH.
- Drink milk: apart from the calcium it provides, milk also neutralises the acid in the oral cavity.
- Brush with fluoride toothpaste: fluoride fortifies tooth enamel.
Acidity is dangerous for oral health. Although it weakens the enamel, adhering to specific rules and regular dental checkups could help.
