How Acidic Drinks Are Wrecking Your Teeth
50% of the people you meet consider your smile the first facial feature they notice about you. Having healthy looking teeth is critical to having a beautiful smile. The carbonated beverages, fruit juices and highly acidic drinks that you consume may nonetheless compromise your smile. Acidic drinks have been found to enhance tooth erosion, and you might be alarmed to learn that many of the health trends of today are actually harmful to your teeth. You need to learn about this now to prevent tooth decay and dental emergencies occurring in the future.
The Enamel
The tooth is covered by semi-clear, extra-hard layer called enamel. Dentists claim that the enamel is the hardest substance in the body. This is a quality that helps it protect the teeth from the wears and tears of grinding, chewing and biting. Other functions of the enamel include shielding teeth from extreme temperatures as well as damaging chemicals.
The shiny white smile is attributed to a healthy and intact enamel. The enamel has one weakness; it can be eroded by acid. Once the enamel shell is eroded, you get sensitive teeth, and if this isn’t checked, cavities and tooth decay eventually occur.
The effect of Acidic Beverages
Acidic erosion of the enamel is precipitated by drinks whose pH is below 5.0. Acid weakens the enamel by impairing re-mineralization of the enamel. When re-mineralization is poor, the enamel begins to break down and get eroded. This exposes the underlying tissues which are highly sensitive hence tooth sensitivity ensures. The underlying dentine is not as strong as the enamel and easily get eroded by the acid produced by the mouth bacteria. If corrective measures are not taken, serious tooth cavities and decay occur.
Acid Drinks that May Erode teeth
- Carbonated Drinks– these drinks have high levels of acidity such that it is possible for them to erode the enamel in a very short time. Soft drinks, diet soft drinks and sports energy drinks all contain acid and, therefore, should be taken very rarely by anyone with tooth sensitivity or eroded enamel.
- Wine– wine is mildly acidic, but it also has the capacity to erode the enamel.
- Alcohol– most alcoholic drinks are acidic
- Yogurt– yogurt contains acid and thus should not be let to linger in the mouth for long durations
- Some Fruit Juices– most fruit juices have medium to low acid levels depending on the fruits used. They should, therefore, be drunk occasionally.
- Honey– has a pH level of about 3.9 and, therefore, has the capacity to erode your teeth.
Signs That Acid Drinks Are Damaging Your Teeth
The initial stages of tooth erosion are barely noticeable. However continued drinking of acidic beverages will lead to definite signs and symptoms which may later develop into serious dental complications.
- Tooth Sensitivity– as the enamel wears away, on begins to feel a twinge of pain whenever he or she drinks cold, hot or sugary beverages.
- Discoloration– when you drink acidic beverages, you may realize that, after some time, your teeth begin to become slightly yellow as the enamel thins out exposing the underlying dentin
- Rounded Teeth– Acidic drinks, after some time, transform your teeth to give them a rounded, sandblasted look.
- Translucent Edges– the biting edges of your front teeth may begin to appear translucent
- Cracks– the edges of the teeth start to crack and become rough
- Cupping– the chewing surface of the teeth begin to cup as small dents form. In case you have fillings, they appear to be rising up and out of the teeth.
Preventive Measures
You do not have to remove acid drinks from your diet entirely but doing the following will reduce the damaging effect that these drinks have on your teeth.
- Reduce or eliminate carbonated drinks from your meals
- Drink acid drinks quickly using a straw and do not swish them around
- Swallow acid drinks as soon as they are in your mouth
- After drinking acidic beverages, gaggle water to rinse and neutralize the acid
- Brush your teeth using alkaline toothpaste that contains fluoride.
The point of this post is not to raise alarm but to raise awareness. It’s not a dental emergency to drink acidic drinks, we all like them, it’s just important to know how to counter them with the correct measures to protect your teeth. I intend to provide more informative posts through this blog so stay tuned and thanks for stopping by.
Dental Smarts 