What causes acid erosion?
Frequent consumption of food and drinks with a high acid content can cause acid erosion. When tooth enamel is exposed to acids (from food, drinks or the stomach), it temporarily softens and loses some of its mineral content. Saliva will help neutralize acidity, restore the mouth’s natural balance and slowly re-harden the tooth enamel. However, because the tooth’s recovery process is slow, if the acid attack happens frequently, the tooth does not have a chance to repair itself. Wine, fruit juices and various fruits can be highly acidic and therefore potentially damaging to the teeth. Acidic foods should not and cannot easily be avoided, since they are important to a healthy diet. But care needs to be taken as to when and how often they are consumed. It is not just what is consumed that causes acid erosion, but also the way that acidic items are eaten and drunk. Holding or retaining acidic food or drinks in the mouth prolongs the teeth’s exposure to acid, therefore increasing the risk of
Frequent consumption of foods and drinks with a high acid content can cause enamel erosion. When tooth enamel is exposed to acids (from food, drinks or the stomach), it temporarily softens and loses some of its mineral content. Saliva will help neutralise acidity, restore the mouth’s natural balance and slowly harden the tooth enamel. However, because the tooth’s recovery process is slow, if the acid attack happens frequently, the tooth does not have a chance to repair. Some fruit teas, wine and various fruits can be highly acidic and therefore potentially damaging to the teeth. Acidic foods should not and cannot easily be avoided, but care needs to be taken as to the frequency and manner of consumption. It is not just what is consumed that causes acid erosion, but also the way that acidic items are held within the mouth. Holding or retaining acidic food or drinks in the mouth prolongs the acid exposure on the teeth, therefore increasing the risk of erosion. Swilling an acidic drink, f
