Most people have heard that acidic foods can negatively affect their teeth. Unfortunately, not many people know how or why this occurs. The acid in certain foods combines with the bacteria that naturally occurs in your mouth to wear away at the enamel of your teeth. Over time, this leads to tooth sensitivity and an increased chance of cavities and tooth decay. As enamel begins to erode away, teeth become discolored. While many people find this discoloration unsightly, it also indicates a much more serious problem. Discoloration means that demineralization of the teeth has already begun. This makes the teeth more sensitive, making eating, speaking, or even breathing uncomfortable.

Signs of Tooth Erosion

Many of the signs of tooth erosion go unnoticed until there’s a serious dental problem. It’s important to know what to look for before tooth erosion causes irreparable damage.

Common signs of tooth erosion include:

 Discoloration

 Rounded teeth

 Transparency

 Cracks

 Cupping of the teeth

Discoloration of the teeth is typically the first sign of erosion. As mentioned above, this discoloration indicates demineralization of the tooth enamel. Tooth erosion can also cause a rounded tooth appearance or sand-blasted look. Teeth may appear translucent around the edges with small cracks present. You might notice small pits on the surface of the teeth and fillings might look like they’re rising up. In addition to visible changes, you might notice increased tooth sensitivity as tooth enamel wears away. This sensitivity is typically more noticeable when eating or drinking.

Highly Acidic Foods

Many popular beverages and foods are bad for your teeth. In addition to the usual suspects such as oranges, lemons, limes, and other citrus fruits, several other foods can affect your teeth as well. Highly acidic foods include:

 Citrus fruits

 Peaches

 Alcohol – especially wine

 Coffee

 Cranberries

 Tomato products - ketchup, hot sauce, salsa, and pasta sauce

It’s important to remember that many of these foods provide essential nutrients and should not be excluded from your diet. Drinking water while consuming highly acidic foods can help mitigate the risk to tooth enamel. While brushing after eating anything is a good idea, the acid in these foods soften tooth enamel. Brushing immediately after eating can increase wear on your teeth. Always wait at least twenty minutes before brushing.

Reduce Dental Erosion Caused By Acidic Foods

Eating highly acidic foods with low acid foods can help protect your teeth from damage. Try combining high acid foods like citrus fruits and peaches with nuts, cheese, oatmeal, melons, bananas, apples, eggs, vegetables, brown rice, fish, and lean meats. All of these foods contain calcium and phosphorous, nutrients needed to remineralize the teeth. In addition to remineralizing the teeth, these foods help neutralize the acids in the mouth when consuming highly acidic foods. Drinking fruit juice or other acidic beverages with a straw can help limit the amount of exposure to your teeth. Just make sure to finish the drink quickly as sipping throughout the day doesn’t allow your saliva to naturally neutralize the acids in your mouth. When selecting foods and beverages, it’s a good idea to choose low sugar varieties. Sugary foods and beverages increase the likelihood of cavities and tooth decay. Whenever possible, choose water, coconut water, or tea instead of fruit juice or coffee. Try snacking on a handful of nuts instead of candy or other sugary treats.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

It’s important to practice good oral hygiene tips and to visit your dentist at least twice a year. During your checkup, your dentist will evaluate your teeth and gums to determine the amount of damage caused by eating acidic foods. Regular dental checkups help catch problems sooner, when they are easier and less expensive to fix. During a routine dental cleaning, your dentist cleans any food, plaque or bacteria left on your teeth after regular brushing and flossing. They use special tools to thoroughly remove particles you may not be able to see. This is extremely important to both your dental and your overall health. Many people avoid going to the dentist until they experience pain or other dental issues. If you have concerns about your teeth, it’s important to speak with your dentist as soon as possible.

LIVFRESH Dental Gel Helps Remineralize Enamel

When used regularly instead of toothpaste, LIVFRESH Dental Gel removes plaque and remineralizes tooth enamel. This quality dental gel not only helps prevent tooth enamel erosion, it helps repair existing damage from consuming highly acidic foods. Developed by PhDs, LIVFRESH Dental Gel removes plaque 250% better than traditional toothpaste. Please contact us for more information about our products.