Children's Sports and Dental Injuries

3 foods that will erode your tooth enamel

27 May 2015 by Lillian Dixon

Have you noticed that your teeth have become more sensitive than usual? Perhaps you have also noticed some discolouration of your teeth? If so, the culprit is most likely erosion of your tooth enamel. Enamel is not the primary material that your tooth is made of – it is a thin covering that protects the tooth from sensitivity and discolouration. This is why you might experience staining as well as pain when you eat hot or cold foods when the enamel erodes.

Erosion usually occurs because of the foods that you eat. These three foods are some of the worst culprits and should be avoided if you want to protect your tooth enamel:

Soft drinks. Most people know that soft drinks are bad news because of the amount of sugar they contain. But switching to sugar-free alternatives is not going to help. This is because it's the acidic content with fizzy drinks, energy drinks, and flavoured waters that erode your tooth enamel.

Inside soft drinks you can expect to find phosphoric acid, malic, and citric acid. And the worst of the bunch are citrus based soft drinks as these have even more citric acid content that drinks such as root beer.

Vinegar. Vinegar is often seen as a miracle product with lots of health benefits, but something not so great about vinegar is its potential for enamel erosion. This substance turns up in a surprising number of foods – table sauces, pickles, and salad dressings to name a few.

Vinegar is essentially a diluted acid, and this explains its corrosive properties. While you might find that this safe acid makes your kitchen countertops sparkle, you might also find that it works away at your teeth with just as much vigour – only it won't make them white, it will cause them to stain more easily.

Pasta sauce. A big bowl of pasta with piping hot tomato sauce can be a comforting meal in winter time, but your teeth aren't such huge fans. Tomatoes contain ten types of acid, including the citric acid and malic acid that can be found in sugary soft drinks. Your teeth will become eroded and more porous when you consume a lot of tomato based sauces, allowing the dark colour of the sauce to stain your teeth and make them more sensitive.

If you experience increased tooth sensitivity, it is worth talking this through with your dentist who will be able to recommend alternative foods that help to protect tooth enamel. Your dentist will also be able to recommend safe and appropriate teeth whitening treatments to restore a bright smile. To learn more, contact a company such as Dental Care @ Bentons.

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