The summer is full of fun and tasty treats like fresh fruit, juice, soda, sweets... Delicious, right?! While these might be fun treats that make the summer even more special, they can also cause a lot of acid erosion to your teeth. Aside from the high sugar content in a lot of these, there is also a lot of acidity in them. Acid wears on your teeth and can slow strip the protective enamel layer away. No one wants that! At Access Dental and Dentures, we're all about making sure your teeth are healthy and you feel confident and happy with your smile. Keep reading to learn how to make that happen while protecting your teeth from erosion.
Signs of Erosion
If you consume a lot of acidic foods and drinks as part of your diet, then you could be on the path to some serious dental issues. Check out these signs and symptoms to see if your enamel may already be experiencing erosion.- Tooth Sensitivity - Hot, cold, and overly sweet items will cause tooth pain.
- Discoloration - Teeth will become more and more yellow.
- Rounding - Teeth may start to look rounded as corners wear away.
- Transparent Teeth - Teeth might start looking somewhat see-through, especially at the edges.
- Cracks & Cupping - Small cracks and dents may appear on your teeth.
Juice
Juice might seem healthy because it comes from fruit, but it can actually be deceiving. Juice from the grocery store is concentrated and high in sugar and acidity. Instead of drinking a glass of apple juice, try eating fresh apple slices to give yourself a boost without the adding calories, sugar, and tooth-destroying acid.Fresh Fruit
Fresh fruit, especially citrus like lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, etc., can have a lot of overall health benefits, but they are also very high in acid. This acid can erode the enamel on your teeth, causing them to be sensitive and more prone to cavities. To get the health benefits of these fruits without causing too much damage to your teeth, try drinking water when you eat them. Drinking water can help to wash away some of the acid so your teeth aren't exposed for as long.
Sweets & Candy
Who doesn't love treating themselves every once in a while? While some treats are okay in moderation, an excessive amount of sweets is very bad for your teeth. Sour candy can be particularly bad because of the high levels of acid used to make that sour taste. Sugar itself is bad enough, but it can also cause more issues by providing food to acid-creating bacteria in your mouth.Soda
Carbonated drinks are notorious bad for your health. Not only are they full or artificial flavors and coloring, they also contain a significant amount of harmful sugars and acid. The acid in soda is incredibly harmful to teeth and makes regular and diet soda equally as bad for your dental health. Instead of ordering soda at the restaurant, try replacing it with water or another less-acidic beverage.
Prevent Acid Erosion
To help protect your teeth from acid erosion, try following some of these great tips:
- Drink plenty of water and rinse your mouth after you eat or drink something acidic.
- Try using a straw so that acidic drinks have less contact with your teeth.
- Avoid too much sugar so acid-creating bacteria won't thrive in your mouth.
- Don't brush your teeth right after eating or drinking something acidic. Scrubbing that acid content into your teeth can make it even worse
- Try watering your juice down a little bit. Not only does this help weaken the level of acidity, but it can also help cut calories while still giving you the flavor your crave!
- Go to the dentist regularly. Regularly visiting the dentist's office for checkups is important to make sure your teeth aren't eroding.
Missouri's Best Dentist
Access Dental and Dentures wants to make sure you are happy and healthy with the best dental care in the state of Missouri. If you think that acid erosion has become an issue for your teeth. Try following the tips from today's blog and schedule an appointment at one of our many convenient clinics to get checked out. We're here for you!
