Do you drink orange juice or coffee every morning, wine every night?  What about sour candy, or even cigarettes? “You are what you eat” — the phrase may be overused, but it still rings true. What goes into your body affects your body, especially when consumed in excess. The same is true for your teeth; what you eat and drink can significantly affect your oral health. Let’s look at how acidity in your diet and lifestyle relates to your oral health — and specifically, how it can cause tooth erosion.

What Is Tooth Erosion?

Tooth erosion is defined as the loss of enamel, the outer protective layer of your teeth, due to exposure to acid not naturally occurring in your mouth. Your teeth can be exposed to acidity from multiple sources: acid reflux, alcoholism, diet, lifestyle, environment, and even pregnancy.

Symptoms of Tooth Erosion

Every case is different, but early-stage tooth erosion typically shows these symptoms in your teeth:

• Sensitivity (to temperature or harsh flavors)
• Discoloration
• Chipping
• Pitting
• Pain (in later stages)

Diet Acidity and Tooth Erosion

According to the American Dental Association, the leading cause of tooth erosion is diet — particularly, overconsumption of highly acidic foods or beverages. Teeth begin to erode when consuming items with a pH between 2.0 and 4.0 — numbers that indicate high acidity. Let’s look at what foods, beverages, and other items fall within that range.

Which Consumables Are Acidic?

Something you eat or drink with a pH of 7.0 is considered acidic, while anything lower than 4.0 is highly acidic. That means the lower the pH of an item, the more acidic it is.

Some of the most acidic everyday things we consume include:

• Citrus — pH as low as 2.0
• Sour candy — average pH of 2.7
• Soda — average pH of 3.1
• Wine — average pH of 3.3
• Coffee — average pH of 5.1
• Cigarette smoke — average pH of 5.5
• Sugar — average pH of 6.4

Are Acidic Foods Bad for Your Teeth?

Some foods are highly acidic. So what? Can they really harm your teeth? The answer depends on multiple factors, such as how much and how often you consume them, as well as how long you wait to brush your teeth after consumption.

Why Acid Erosion Is Serious

Acidic substances wear away at your enamel, which is like armor for your teeth. Without it, your teeth are vulnerable to not just pain, but also breakage, jagged edges that may hurt your mouth or tongue, or even infection and cavities, which can lead to tooth loss. All of these effects are dangerous for your oral and overall health.

3 Ways to Prevent Acid Erosion in Your Teeth

As we’ve established, an acid-rich diet and lifestyle can lead to tooth erosion. Below are three ways you can help prevent prolonged damage to your teeth:

• Eat a balanced diet. Make sure not to ingest acidic foods or beverages in excess, and incorporate more alkaline food items into your meals, such as nuts, seeds, and non-starchy vegetables.
• Brush your teeth at least an hour after consuming something acidic. Brushing too soon after eating sour candies, for example, can impound the erosion effect.
• Avoid cigarettes. As a bonus, you’ll help prevent not only tooth erosion, but also stains, bad breath, gum disease, cavities, and tooth loss.

Even if you are past prevention, there are ways to treat the effects of acid erosion of the teeth — but the sooner the better.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Tooth Erosion

A sure way to tell if you have tooth erosion is to go to the dentist, where they’ll check for the obvious signs: sensitivity, wear and tear, and discoloration. They may even take an X-ray to reveal the extent of the damage.

Your dentist’s recommendations will vary based on the level of harm your teeth have undergone. Early-stage erosion may simply require prevention steps and topical fluoride. For more advanced damage, dental bonding, veneers, or dental crowns may be necessary.

Don’t Let Your Lifestyle Erode Your Smile

If you’re worried about tooth erosion or have questions about the acidity in your diet, reach out to us at Muscaro & Martini Dentistry or call 813-839-6999 to start a consultation. Don’t let your diet or lifestyle get in the way of a healthy, vibrant smile!