How does mouth acidity damage teeth?
From the first day teeth erupt into the mouth, they are either strengthened or damaged by the liquids that flow around them. When alkaline liquids such as cows milk, mineral-rich water, or vegetable broth flow around teeth, they provide an environment to make teeth stronger. When acidic liquids touch teeth, minerals are pulled from enamel, making teeth porous and weak. The greater the acidity of a liquid, the more damage it causes to enamel. The longer acidity is in contact with teeth, the more damage it causes to enamel. Apple juice and sodas are very acidic and can quickly damage teeth. Citric acids (found in sports drinks, lemonade, orange or other citric juices) damage teeth by a process called chelation which actively pulls minerals from the tooth surface. The amount of damage depends on the length of time that acidic liquids remain in contact with teeth. The length of exposure determines the amount of damage. In a healthy mouth, alkaline saliva (the liquid produced by salivary gl
