How Can Sour Food Affect Your Teeth?

The sheer taste of sour foods can stimulate the taste buds and keep us craving for more. The sour foods like the gummy worms and the lemonades often turn out to be surprisingly delicious treats.  These sour delicacies that can make the eyes squint or cheeks pucker are, without any doubt, ever-growing in popularity.

But, unfortunately, the teeth do not feel the same way. While you may enjoy the puckered feeling every now and then, the teeth may face repercussions till much later when this feeling has passed. This damage occurs further if you have orthodontic appliances like braces on.

However, you can still reap the benefits of the acidic foods if you know which foods have the maximum perks and health risks and how to keep the teeth safe while eating them. The acidic fruits that are natural and come with many benefits must be considered here.

The pH value of the fruits helps to assess its acidic levels. Fruits that have pH levels above 7 are said to be alkaline while those below 7 are considered to be acidic. Therefore, the lower the pH levels the higher the acidity level.

Here a number of fruits are enlisted along with their pH levels. Have a look –

• Oranges – pH Level – 3.69 – 4.34
• Mangoes – pH Level – 3.54 – 4. 80
• Peaches – pH Level – 30 – 4.05
• Apples – pH Level – 30 – 3.30 – 4.00
• Pineapples – pH Level – 20 – 4.00
• Blueberries – – pH Level – 3.12-3.33
• Grapefruits – pH Level – 2.90 -3.82
• Blue Plums – pH Level -2.80-3.40
• Cranberry Juice – pH Level- 2.30 -2.52
• Limes – pH Level – 2.00 -2.80
• Lemon Juice – pH Level – 2.00-2.60

This will give you some idea about which one is most acidic and which one id moderately acidic and will help you make the right choice.

Why Do the Sour Foods Damage?

Many-a-times while eating the food, we do not realise the effects that it will have on the teeth. By getting caught up in the taste of food, people often forget that the teeth require care and that should portray from the choice of foods to the after-meal care.  But there are certain foods that can damage the teeth to a great extent.

The enamel of the teeth can be damaged by the acidity of the food. The enamel happens to be the hard-external layer of the teeth that protects it. After you eat the sour food, the enamel can dissolve immediately.

If that sounds scary to you, then if you have braces on, the consequences can be even more tormenting.  This is because the braces sit on the teeth and they create hideouts for the food and the acids to be placed for an even longer time on the teeth. This causes more chances for dissolving the enamel and end up permanently damaging the teeth.

How to Prevent Enamel Erosion?

In order to prevent the enamel erosion you do not have to give up the acidic foods completely. Here are some simple tips to take care of your oral health while still having the sour foods that are necessary for maintaining the vitamin C level of the body.

• Use a Straw – You should use a straw at the time of drinking the fruit juices. This will keep the juice from coming in direct contact with the teeth.
• Do Not Keep Sucking on Sour Candies and Drinking Acidic Fluids for Long – The ongoing sucking prolongs the acid attack on the teeth. So you should refrain from consuming them for a long period of time.
• Refrain from Sucking on the Acidic Fruits Directly – You should never suck on the limes, lemons and other acidic fruits. If you place these against the teeth directly, they are sure to take a toll on the enamel of the teeth.
• Use Fluoride Toothpaste – Take care of your enamel by using a fluoridated toothpaste every day.
• Rinse Your Mouth with Water after Eating – Post eating the fruit, you should rinse your mouth with water for diluting the acids in the mouth. You should then wait for at least 30 minutes prior to brushing as this will give the enamel some time to settle down.
• Go for Cheese after Having Acidic Foods– You should eat cheese after having the fruit. This increases the pH level of the mouth and enhances the production of saliva that also helps to neutralise the acids. The cheese also contains certain compounds that stick to the enamel and protect the same from various kinds of acids in the food that you consume.
• You Should Ask the Dentist – If the erosion has already begun or you have chosen to opt for orthodontic treatments like braces that can be derived at the best teeth braces price at the nearest dental clinic, then you should ask the dentist to guide you about how to reduce that effects of acidic foods on your teeth.

The vitamin C plays a major role in the repair, maintenance and growth of the significant tissues of the body like the cartilage, bones and even teeth. In fact, research has proven that vitamin C is also required to fight infections and heal wounds, and this includes preventing gum disease, as well. So you cannot ignore the acidic and sour foods completely as they are rich sources of this vital vitamin. That is why you should keep the above tips in mind so that you can take care of your oral health and make the most of what these sour foods have to offer.

Author Bio:

Sawoni Chowdhury is an aficionado of writing. She is an expert writer and blogger and shares her views and opinions on a range of topics such as Lifestyle, Business, Entertainment and lot more.