The ‘Problem’ With Acidic Drinks And Food

Tooth damage caused by sugar consumption is well known. The effects of acidic food and drinks can be just as damaging.

From a very young age we are told that sugar is bad for our teeth. As children, we often ignore this advice, only to discover how painful a toothache can be. As adults, we are more aware of the risks, but the reality is that most of us enjoy at least some sweet food and drinks, but we also know that keeping this to a minimum and cleaning our teeth well will help to minimise the risk of any harm coming to our teeth.

What many people don’t realise though is that it isn’t actually the sugars that damage our teeth, but the acids that are produced when bacteria in the oral cavity feed off the sugar, producing acids as a byproduct. It is this that attacks the protective tooth enamel and can lead to a number of problems.

This is an ongoing ‘battle’ through our lives, but there is now another threat from acid damage to our teeth and that is through our diet, and especially the increase in consumption of acidic drinks.

Natural acids in food

Many patients of Blue Sky Dental will already consume quite a lot of acidic food in the form of fruit, and especially citrus fruits such as oranges. Some of us may also add a squeeze of lemon into our water to make it more tasty and refreshing. Even naturally occurring acids like this can cause damage, and, while fruit should form a part of a healthy diet, it pays to be careful not to overdo this if you want to maintain healthy teeth.

Commercial drinks

The biggest threat to our teeth from acids though is increasingly coming in the shape of commercial drinks such as colas and almost all ‘fizzy’ drinks. As people seem to be gradually moving away from alcoholic drinks, especially the younger generation, it is likely that they will turn to these more and more, especially when socialising. This is likely to lead to an increase in the number of people seeking restorative dentistry at our Chelmsford practice for problems caused by this. We will discuss this more in a minute.

Before we move on to treatments though, we want to discuss the growing problem of sports or energy drinks. While these may have a use at a professional or higher level of physical activity, the reality is that a large proportion of these are consumed by the general public too. Some people claim that the energy that these drinks provide help them get through the day but the fact is that, for the vast majority of people, these should be absolutely unnecessary if you eat a balanced diet. It may be that people are drinking these to make up for the fact that they aren’t doing so.

Acid tooth damage

The initial damage that acid causes is that it starts to attack the enamel of our teeth. This is the external layer of the tooth which acts as a protective barrier against damage to the more vulnerable inner parts of our teeth. As the enamel becomes damaged, our teeth become more vulnerable to a number of dental issues.

Sensitive teeth

The first thing that people who consume these acidic drinks often notice, is an increase in the sensitivity of their teeth. The enamel erosion caused by these drinks means that we start to feel discomfort or even pain when we eat or drink things that are either very hot or very cold. This is not something that most people want to put up with and it is likely to worsen as time goes by. The most common solution to this is the fitting of resilient porcelain veneers to the front of the teeth; in effect replacing the eroded enamel. This is an excellent solution can last for ten years or more before the veneers need to be replaced.

Tooth decay

Naturally, when tooth enamel is compromised, it makes it easier for bacteria to enter into the more porous parts of our teeth. These continue to produce acids internally and cavities soon form. These are best detected by one of our Chelmsford dentists during a check up so that the tooth can be filled with the smallest possible filling. People who skip their check up appointments may only notice the presence of dental cavities when a toothache appears. This can be not only painful but can mean that more extensive treatment will be needed than if the issues had been detected and resolved sooner.

Root canal infections

In some cases, once bacteria enter the inner part of our teeth, they manage to find their way into the root canals. This is where the soft pulp material is stored which includes the nerves. As you can imagine then, an infection in this area can be very painful indeed. If a root canal infection occurs, there are only two options available; either to extract the tooth, which should always be a last option, or to perform a root canal procedure. Despite its sometime harsh reputation, this should cause no more discomfort than most invasive dental procedures and is an excellent way of saving a tooth that has been affected in this way.

As with most dental issues, prevention is key. We recommend that you avoid, or at least keep to a very minimum, consumption of the drinks that we have mentioned above. Make sure too, to brush and floss your teeth well, and, equally importantly, make sure that you maintain regular check up appointments with us.  If you are not sure when your appointment is, or would like to book one with us, please call Blue Sky Dental today on 01245 211070.