Why Limiting Acidic Foods is Beneficial for Your Teeth

Patients who regularly see a Woombye dentist will already know that we are passionate about preventive dentistry. While part of any good preventive dental care plan is a good daily oral care routine, including twice daily brushing and daily flossing, it is only part of the bigger picture. Many people are vigilant about their oral health but will still suffer from common dental problems, including tooth enamel erosion and cavities. Often these problems are related to their dietary choices.

How Can Diet Affect Dental Health?

Most people know that eating too many sugary foods will result in a trip to the dentist in Woombye and probably the need for a filling or two. When you eat anything sugary, bacteria naturally present in the mouth feast on the leftovers, producing acid as a by-product, and these acids then weaken tooth enamel. But the same issue can arise if you eat a diet high in acidic foods.

Whenever you eat foods that are naturally high in acids, these acids will weaken and erode tooth enamel. Every time you have anything acidic, your mouth remains more acidic for at least half an hour afterwards before pH levels gradually return to normal.

What Happens When Teeth are Exposed to Acidic Foods and Drinks?

Repeated exposure to acids eventually weakens tooth enamel to such an extent that cavities start to form. Our Woombye dentists, frequently see patients who are concerned about tooth sensitivity. Your tooth enamel protects your teeth, and when it thins, teeth become more sensitive to hot and cold and sweet and sour foods. Eventually, without treatment or a change in dietary habits, pits and lesions can form on the surface of tooth enamel. Over time, these will develop into cavities. At the same time, softer tooth enamel is more susceptible to staining, so if you eat a lot of berries or highly coloured foods, your teeth can discolour more quickly. It is a situation cosmetic dentists in Woombye frequently see in patients wishing to whiten their teeth.

Which Acidic Foods are Harmful to Teeth?

Acidic foods that can harm your teeth include tomatoes, vinegary dressings and condiments, citrus fruits and soft drinks. Some people will diligently avoid high-sugar fizzy drinks, instead opting for diet versions. Unfortunately, these diet drinks are equally bad for teeth as the sugars are replaced with acids to ensure they taste good.

How to Protect Your Teeth?

Ideally, it is best to limit your consumption of acidic foods, and when you want to eat something more acidic, have it as part of your main meal rather than as a snack. Your mouth will already be more acidic, and you will already be producing more saliva. Saliva helps to wash away acids more quickly, restoring a neutral pH in the mouth. Rinsing your mouth with water after eating is also helpful, as is finishing your meal with cheese, as this helps to reharden tooth enamel. Wait at least half an hour before brushing your teeth. Finally, visit your dentist at Woombye Dental if you have any concerns about tooth sensitivity or staining or would like more advice on maintaining a tooth-friendly diet.