Studies Expose Foods and Beverages Corrosive to Tooth

Carbonated drinks, tonic and medicinal drinks, and some fruit juices pose greater threat to the deterioration of the tooth’s enamel compared to tap water with sugar. These food and beverages has higher content of acid in their components. Acid do more damages to the enamel of the teeth than sugar. The former constant corrosive action on the tooth and its surrounding tissues cause the enamel of the tooth to erode making the tooth lose its natural contour and exposing the dentine prematurely.

These are among the findings of a study conducted by the University of Adelaide, Australia, which focuses on the effect of foods and liquids to dental health. Dr. Don Wilson, Chairman of the ADA’s (Australian Dental Association) Oral Health Education Committee said that Australians’ natural inclination towards dental care offsets the effects of the high acid content of the foods and drinks they usually consumed. Due to proper dental care more and more people retains their teeth way until their old age.

Some of the common “healthy” foods with high acidic content are as follows:

· Sports drinks
· Soft drinks
· Apple juice
· Cordials

These liquids are found to have lower acid content.
· Milk
· Soda water
· Mineral water
· Yoghurt
· Unsweetened orange juice

A separate study that deals on common food items found that lemon juice, and vinegar has the most corrosive effect while beer and tomato soup have the least corrosive effect to the teeth.

Different foods and drinks exert different effects to tooth decay as the saliva in the mouth may buffer the actions of the acid to the teeth however; these factors may facilitate their erosive effects,

· Excessive intake of liquid at more than one liter per day other than water
· Bad history of dental caries
· Reduced saliva due to dehydration from strenuous activities or health problems
· Excessive sipping of erosive drinks and holding them in the mouth for a long time before swallowing

Substantial erosive effects of foods and beverages to the teeth do not happen overnight. Practice of good oral hygiene prevents tooth decay.

· Rinsing the mouth with water after eating
· Brushing and flossing
· Eating a balanced and varied diet

Dr. Wilson forewarned that the results of the two studies should not be interpreted to mean that sugary foods are better than foods with natural sugar like fruit juice for although some foods may be highly acidic they are nonetheless important to our general well-being.