Surprisingly, even those on a healthy diet are prone to acid
wear of teeth. Unfortunately, acid-worn tooth enamel is
being seen more and more frequently by dentists in their
young patients, a worryingly escalating trend.[1] Acid wear
can make teeth more sensitive to temperatures and also makes
your teeth more prone to decay.[2] This article discusses
some of the ways to approach protecting yourself from the
possibility of getting acid erosion of your teeth and those
of your family.
!! Steps !!
Be aware of the causes. Instigators of acid wear on teeth include:
* Regular and prolonged consumption of wine, fruit juices, soft/pop
drinks and vinegar-based salad dressings[3]
* Frequent grazing through the day on veggies and fruit
* Imbalanced eating patterns, for example, not eating something that
counterbalances the acidity of fruit, such as nuts, at the time of
eating the fruit
* Snack foods – many of them are acidic.
Cut down on acid producing beverages. Reduce or eliminate your
consumption of soda pops and soft drinks, fruit juices and wine.
Large amounts of these beverages are not healthy for you for many
reasons, so not only your teeth will benefit from reduced
consumption, but also your nutrition status and your body's overall
health.
Avoid grazing through the day. If you enjoy nibbling on food all
day long, you may be endangering your teeth. The best solution is
to ensure that the foods that you consume are either low in acidity
or are combined with foods able to counteract the acidity and
reduce your need for the acidic food. For example, consuming nuts
with fruit or cheese with carrots may be one way to reduce the
effects of acid wear. Nuts and dairy foods are considered helpful
balancers to acidic foods.[4]
Avoid brushing your teeth for one hour after consuming acidic food
and drink. While this may seem counter-intuitive, acidic foods and
drink soften the tooth enamel and leave it prone to damage from
brushing. Wait an hour before brushing.[5] It is also very
important not to over brush your teeth any time; too much brushing
is abrasive and wears down your teeth.[6] Rely on dental floss and
toothpicks in between morning and evening brushing.
Use a straw. Reduce the contact of juice and soda drinks with
your teeth by drinking through a straw. This is only a minor
help, so don't rely on it as a major solution! The best approach
is to reduce your overall consumption of fruit juice and soda
drinks.
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* Most of us know the feeling of fuzziness on our teeth after
consuming cola. Why is this? It is because the phosphoric acid in
cola has started to lightly etch your teeth. This is compounded by
the carbonic acid caused by the carbonation of soft drinks.[7]
* Orange juice and other citrus juices contain natural acids -
citric acid and ascorbic acid. It is recommended that you swallow
and not chew vitamin C tablets.[8]
* Other sources of tooth erosion include those suffering from
bulimia; constant vomiting or reflux causes acidic contents to be
in frequent contact with the teeth.[9]
* Baby teeth are very vulnerable to acid erosion because
the teeth have softer enamel than adult teeth.[10]
* Flavoured waters should also be treated with care; those
containing sugar and other additives may be as acidic as a soft
drink.
* Did you know that North American women drink more diet coke than
water?[11]
!! Warnings !!
* Do not ignore the signs of acid wear on teeth - increased
sensitivity, roughness, discoloration etc. The sooner that you can
have this seen to, the better.
!! Things You'll Need !!
* Dental floss
* More water in your diet and the diets of your children
* Neutral foods
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Help Your Kids Care for Their Teeth
* How to Whiten Teeth With Baking Soda
* How to Brush Teeth Without Toothpaste
* How to Take Care of Your Teeth
* How to Keep Your Children Brushing Their Teeth
* How to Brush Your Teeth
!! Sources And Citations !!
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
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