Your teeth are very strong, but if you eat certain foods or drink certain beverages, your teeth might become overly sensitive. Below, we’ll go over how acidic foods affect your teeth. We will also include a list of foods which you might want to avoid.
Healthy Teeth Increase Quality of Life
Teeth are tools that allow you to chew, masticate and chop large pieces of food into smaller morsels. These smaller morsels are easier for your body to digest. Babies start without teeth and can’t handle tougher foods. Adults have a variety of different teeth types to process their food.
Your incisors have a small, sharp penetrating surface for grabbing food. Canines can tear large pieces of food from the back of your mouth. The molars and premolars have a flatter surface that is used to crush and grind.
Healthy teeth allow you to enjoy a healthier quality of life. You can eat what you want and grind it properly. You won’t have debilitating toothaches.
Acid Erodes Tooth Enamel
Scientists have created a Power of Hydrogen (pH) standard to measure whether something is an acid or base. This pH scale runs from a low pH 0 (stomach acid) to a high pH 14 (bleach). Anything under 7.0 is considered to be acidic.
Unfortunately, acidic foods tend to erode your tooth enamel. This leaves the softer layer underneath, dentin, exposed. Eventually, this decay can lead to discoloration and sensitivity in your teeth.
Most Acidic Foods
Other words for acidic are tangy, spicy, sour, piquant, zesty, sharp or pungent. Therefore, spicy dishes that might have a “bite” to them are more likely to be acidic. Here are some of the most common acidic foods and beverages:
- Oranges
- Lemons
- Cranberries
- Pickles
- Coffee
- Tomatoes
You might also include peppers, onions, garlic, vinegar and other types of foods on this list. Of course, you need to have these foods as part of a normal, well-balanced diet. But, you don’t want to overdo it.
Balanced Diet
Your stomach, digestive system and teeth will thank you, if you eat a well-balanced diet. Sure, including the aforementioned acidic foods can add some variety to meals; but, also add base foods.
Base foods include breads, rice, pasta, nuts, cheese, melons, bananas, apples, vegetables, fish and whole grains. These all have a low pH level, which will lower your body’s overall pH level. Dairy products provide calcium and phosphorus, which can be used to rebuild your tooth enamel.
Enamel Protecting Toothpaste
Bringing a toothbrush with you in your purse, backpack or bag is always wise. But, experts suggest that you might want to wait a little after eating acidic foods. This may be counter-intuitive, but basically your teeth are likely to be a little sensitive after you eat.
Therefore, if you have the time, you should wait a little bit and then brush. You should also use special enamel protecting toothpaste. This would be ideal for big coffee drinkers. If you plan ahead, you can have your cake and eat it too.
