You know that eating taffy, chewy caramel and sugared gum can be harmful to your teeth, but soft drinks, even diet ones, can promote tooth erosion. Researchers now know that it is not just the sugar in soda that is bad for your teeth, but the acids included in them eat way at the enamel of your teeth making them more prone to disintegration, hypersensitivity, and discoloration.
The enamel is the outer layer of your tooth and is one of the hardest most mineralized surfaces in your body. The enamel’s hardness protects the inner and softer portion of the tooth, known as the dentin.
Acidic beverages include not only carbonated sodas, regular and diet, but also citrus juices like orange, lemon and grapefruit juices, energy drinks and tea.
While we’re not forcing you to give up your favorite soda for good, dental professionals do recommend you limit the frequency of your intake and incorporate these additional strategies the next time you reach for something fizzy:
• Consume the beverage at once, rather than sipping on it all day.
• Drink through a straw as this will minimize acid exposure on the tooth’s enamel.
• Refrain from brushing your teeth 30 minutes after drinking a highly acidic beverage.
• Rinse your mouth with water after consuming an acidic beverage.
If you want to understand how acid affects your teeth and learn how to implement measures to control and prevent further damage, give Livonia Dental Care a call. We would be happy to examine your teeth for possible tooth erosion and work with you to improve the health of your mouth.
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