The types of food you eat can have a profound effect on your dental health. Most people know that sugary and sticky foods can cause cavities and other oral health problems, but the role of acidic foods in your oral health is not as well known. To keep your teeth strong and healthy, it’s important to eat healthy foods and avoid sugary, sticky, and highly acidic foods and beverages.

How Does Acidic Food Affect My Teeth?

Dental cavities, also known as caries, occur as a result of acid buildup in the mouth. Acid can eat through the enamel and even into the dentin in more severe cases of decay. Highly acidic food, if eaten regularly over long periods of time, can eat into the enamel, weakening it. This makes it more likely that decay will occur, because the weaker enamel is more likely to develop caries, the most common problem in dentistry. [pullquote]To keep your teeth strong and healthy, it’s important to eat healthy foods and avoid sugary, sticky, and highly acidic foods and beverages.[/pullquote]

Acid can also gradually dissolve the enamel, even as far down as the dentin, leading to sensitivity, sometimes extreme, which can be very uncomfortable. Enamel cannot be replayed, so if it is damaged by exposure to acidic foods, your teeth might need to be extracted and replaced. If you experience extreme sensitivity or often have cavities, your dentist can help you determine if these symptoms are due to acid damage.

Foods to Avoid to Prevent Acid Damage

Reducing your exposure to certain foods can make it less likely that you will experience damage to your tooth enamel. Foods you should avoid ingesting in large quantities include:

  • Citrus fruits
  • Citrus fruit juices
  • Soft drinks

Soft drinks are a particularly common culprit of acid damage since people tend to drink them in large quantities. They are very acidic and can easily cause extensive damage if they are consumed consistently. Fruit juices can also be acidic, but they supply nutritional benefits lacking in soft drinks. To reduce the possibility of acid damage, drink more water and reduce your intake of soft drinks.

For a complete evaluation of your dental health, contact our skilled and experienced dental team today.