Many people think that foods and drinks that damage teeth must contain sugar. However, many foods and drinks are harmful to our teeth even though they do not contain sugar.
WHAT ARE THE SUGAR-FREE DRINKS THAT DAMAGE YOUR TEETH?
In terms of consuming healthy drinks, there are hundreds of people who consume acidic drinks that damage their teeth, even though they do not contain sugar. These people believe that they are eating healthy with good intentions. Moreover, in addition to a healthy diet, these people also take the necessary healthy care for their teeth. They brush their teeth regularly and use dental floss, but when they are confronted with the abrasion and problems in their teeth, they are shocked. Because with the consumption of acidic beverages, they are faced with irreversible abrasions on the enamel of the teeth. Moreover, they are shocked when they see this in a dentist’s examination as a result of X-ray and comprehensive examination.
When there are additional tooth spaces in addition to the abrasion areas caused by acidic beverages, this is sometimes accompanied by caries. When faced with such a problem, part of the solution is to avoid acidic drinks. These include sugar-free cola, soda and even soda with lemon added.
WHY DO TEETH ERODE AND DECAY DESPITE NOT EATING SWEETS?
Many people know that diet is the cause of tooth decay and wear and tear. The first culprit here is sugar. But many people are not aware of the danger beyond sugar, as we explain in this blog post. And sugar is not the only dietary problem when it comes to tooth decay.
While most of us know that sugar feeds the bacteria that cause cavities in the mouth, most of us don’t know about the acidic residues after consumption of other foods. Dietary acids can also form in the mouth after consuming milk, meat and cereals.
Our bodies need acid to function well. However, like many things, when this ratio increases, the environment in the mouth becomes acidic.
WHAT SHOULD THE PH RATIO IN THE MOUTH BE?
Let’s remember that we learned about the PH scale in middle school and science classes. If this ratio is below pH 7.0, the acid ratio is high, and if it is above 7.0, there is a basic environment. Research on the ideal environment for teeth says that a PH above 4.0 is the best.
WHAT ARE THE MOST HARMFUL DIETARY ACIDS?
- fruit juices
- sports drinks
- carbonated drinks, soda
- coffee, tea, alcohol
- meat and cheese are acidic foods.
While consuming acidic beverages for a healthy life, their quantity is also important. These healthy drinks, which seem innocent when consumed 2-3 times a day, trigger dietary acid. Because normally the minerals in saliva buffer this acidic environment. But this buffering is not possible.
HOW DO WE PROTECT TEETH FROM ACID?
While discussing dietary sugar and acids, it is important to emphasize the importance of dental and oral hygiene.
CONSUME MORE WATER
After drinking acidic drinks and sugary foods, it is necessary to consume water, especially by rinsing the mouth. It is effective in solving the problem to meet the need for water consumption with pure water instead of soda and mineral waters. This should be done gradually and over several days. Spreading the consumption of acidic and sugary drinks throughout the day increases the damage.
We can shorten the time the tooth is exposed to acid. Thus, let’s consume diet and sugar-free drinks knowing that they are not innocent. Carbonated drinks and sugar-free sports drinks are also in this group.
Although sports drinks do not contain carbohydrates, they contain preservative acids that sweeten the product. The combination that gives the drink its fresh and fizzy taste is highly acidic. After such acidic foods and drinks, the mouth’s buffering mechanism works. The minerals in saliva can do this buffering. Chewing gum and drinking water support this mechanism.
ARE THERE SPECIAL PASTES TO PREVENT ACID EROSION?
The use of special pastes is very important in preventing acid erosion. It is stabilizing.
