Every patient wants to maintain a healthy and attractive smile for years to come. Our Elmhurst dentists are here to provide you with the information and support that you need to make strong dental decisions, so that you can protect your teeth and gums.
Today we are going to be talking about one specific threat to your oral health: acid erosion.
Many of the foods and drinks that we regularly enjoy are actually quite acidic. Unfortunately, when are teeth are chronically exposed to acidic substances over a long period of time, our dental enamel can suffer.
Here are some foods and drinks that are known to be acidic:
· Fruit
· Juices
· Soft drinks
· Coffee
· Wine and alcohol
· Pickles
· Tomato products
So, the first thing to know is that when you eat or drink something acidic, your teeth are actually softened and weaker for about 20 to 30 minutes after acid exposure. For this reason, you want to wait at least a half of an hour to brush your teeth after consuming acidic foods and drinks.
In general, it is best to limit your consumption of acidic foods and beverages. It is better to enjoy these things in specific, short periods of time, rather than snacking or sipping throughout the day.
One thing that you can do to minimize acid damage is to rinse your smile with water after eating or drinking. You also want to make sure that you are drinking plenty of water, since this allows your body to produce saliva, which naturally helps to re-mineralize dental enamel.
As always, our Elmhurst dentists are here to answer any questions that you may have, and to help you avoid premature acid erosion. Give us a call, our use the Contact Us page on our website when you are ready to get started and schedule a consultation!