Acid Bath for Your Teeth
The world is becoming increasingly aware of how what we eat and
drink can affect our health. However, one part of the body is often
ignored when it comes to consumption... the mouth. Yes, we know
that candy and sugar-filled foods are bad for the teeth. But did
you ever think about how what you drink affects your mouth?
WHAT TO DRINK? HAZARDS OF POPULAR BEVERAGES
I spoke to American Dental Association (ADA) spokesperson
Richard Price, DMD, who affirmed that even beverages only in your
mouth briefly bathe your teeth in sugar, chemicals, acid and
coloring agents as they pass through. We talked about how various
drinks affect the teeth...
- Soft
drinks. One 12-ounce can of soda
contains the equivalent of 10 to 12 teaspoons of sugar and 20-ounce
bottles are loaded with 17 teaspoons. While you would never dream
of shoveling this amount of sugar into your mouth, it goes down
pretty easily in a soft drink. More sugar brings more risk of
decay... and acid may be even worse. Both regular and diet sodas
commonly contain phosphoric or citric acid that erodes tooth enamel
and can lead to softening, demineralization, erosion (the wearing
away of enamel), cavities and tooth sensitivity. Acid erosion and
heavy consumption of dark-hued soft drinks such as cola also stains
teeth.
- Juices and juice
drinks. In
terms of overall health, pure juices are a better choice than
sugar-filled juice drinks, but both pose problems for teeth. Fruit
juices are naturally high in sugar (higher than fruit, in fact,
since the pulp and fiber are removed) and may have even more sugar
than some juice drinks sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. Not
only that, but citrus-based lemonade, orange juice, grapefruit
juice, etc., are high in acid. Dark juices (especially grape) cause
staining.
- Sports and energy
beverages. Sports beverages, energy
drinks and vitamin waters may promise a surge of power on the
playing field or at the office, but they, too, are frequently laced
with sugar, acid and food coloring.
- Coffee and
tea. There
are plenty of health benefits to both coffee and tea, but be aware
that just as they stain tea cups, they can also stain teeth.
Sweetening them with sugar can also contribute to decay.
-
Milk. Even
though it contains lactose (milk sugar), milk is also high in
calcium, which makes it a better beverage choice for teeth.
Calcium strengthens tooth enamel and can neutralize the
effects of acid.
-
Alcohol. Alcoholic
beverages are made from fermented sugars and often contain
significant residual sugar, and the mixers used with them
also contain sugar and acid, so Dr. Price notes that in
excess these can be harmful to the teeth. If you drink enough
to lead to a hangover, the resulting dehydration and dry
mouth can be detrimental to oral health since it produces
conditions favorable to decay. Red wine is notorious for
staining teeth. To offset this effect, alternate sips of wine
with sips of water. Although white wine by itself is not a
"stainer," it may make teeth more susceptible to staining by
other beverages, i.e., grape juice, tea, coffee, etc. If you
choose these drinks, it’s actually better for your teeth to
have them with meals rather than in-between.
KEEP YOUR TEETH PRETTY AND HEALTHY
After consuming beverages, swish water around in your mouth --
and don’t brush your teeth. It may seem counter-intuitive, but
brushing at this point does more harm than good. By softening
enamel, acids in beverages such as cola, sports and energy drinks
or citrus drinks make teeth more susceptible to abrasion from
toothpaste. Wait at least 30 minutes before brushing.
More strategies to protect your pearly whites include...
- Use a
straw. To
minimize staining and exposure to sugar and acid, use straws to
keep the liquids from swishing around in your mouth.
- Near bedtime, avoid soda,
sports drinks and juices. Saliva production decreases
while you sleep, and since saliva is what neutralizes acid and
tames bacteria that cause decay, nighttime sweet drinks may be
especially damaging.
- Do not brush your teeth
vigorously. Use a soft-bristled,
ADA-approved toothbrush that is gentler on enamel.
- Consider dental
sealants. Especially if you are
cavity-prone, dental sealants -- protective plastic coatings on the
chewing surfaces of the back teeth -- can help stave off
decay.
- Review the medications you
take with your dentist. Many drugs (including
antihistamines, antidepressants, high blood pressure and asthma
medications) cause dry mouth as a side effect, which in turn can
lead to decay and erosion.
Source(s):
Richard Price, DMD, American Dental Association spokesperson,
retired from private practice in Boston.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|