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The dental community must take a strange stance on many foods that other members of the medical community would regularly praise. Although these foods may be very good for the body and overall health, high in acid or natural sugars, they could actually spell trouble for teeth and gums.

The Dangers of Acid For a long time, it has been sugar that has taken the bad rap as the main cause of tooth decay, however, it isn’t just the sweetness found in cookies, cakes, candies, and creams that keeps a dentist Austin busy. Acid is also a big player in creating havoc in the mouth. Many very commonly consumed foods and beverages contain large amounts of acid. This includes pickles, citrus fruits, soda, and even some jams and jellies. There are even some people who will suffer from acid erosion because of malfunctions within the body. For instance, people diagnosed with bulimia or acid reflux can actually have stomach acid reach the mouth, which will slow eat away at their teeth. As the outer layer of the teeth, the enamel, is broken down, the teeth become more susceptible to the bacteria that feed on sugar, cause decay, and spread infection.

Acidity Comes in Many Forms Acid is found in so many foods that it can seem at times that your dentist and your doctor are going to go to battle. Foods that most medical professionals would recommend, such as apples, oranges, tomatoes, fruit juices, and even yogurt can carry high doses of dangerous acid. Though they are good players in a healthy diet, their consumption should be carefully considered from an oral health stance.

Happy Mind, Body and Mouth The trick to keeping your body healthy and maintaining your teeth and gums is consuming these foods and beverages in the right way. For instance, when drinking beverages high in acid, it is suggested that a person use a straw. By doing so, fewer teeth are directly impacted by the liquid and less acid is allowed to build up on their surfaces. While many diet plans suggest eating throughout the day and avoiding large meals, acidic foods can actually do more damage when consumed in this manner. An apple or orange consumed all at once, in one sitting will release as much acid as one consumed slowly over a long period of time. The difference, however, is that those eaten quickly provide saliva time to neutralize the acid and rinse the teeth, whereas when eaten slowly, the acid is allowed to linger, doing damage as it sits.

Put the Toothbrush Down Knowing that they have consumed foods that are potentially dangerous to teeth and gums, many people will hurry away to the bathroom. Though it may come as a surprise to a lot of people, brushing teeth immediately after snacking on acidic foods can actually create more problems. Dentists recommend that a person wait at least thirty minutes after the acid-filled snack before squeezing out some toothpaste. This gives saliva time to neutralize the acid before it is pushed around within the mouth.

Austin Dental Center, PC
2304 Hancock Dr. Suite 1
Austin, TX 78756-2537
(512) 454-0414