Part 1 of a 2-part Discussion About Tooth Enamel
Your teeth put up with a lot every day. Coffee in the morning, soda or sweet tea at lunch, a dessert with dinner, and grinding your teeth at night are just a few things your teeth might deal with in a single day. Most people don’t think about the effects of their eating and drinking habits on their tooth enamel until their teeth are sensitive, stained, or worn down. At this point, the damage is already done. Tooth enamel is important to our dental health, so how can we protect it?
Why Enamel Matters
Enamel forms the hard outer layer of each tooth. It is a shield, protecting the softer layers and tissues underneath from heat, cold, pressure, bacteria, and acid. Strong enamel helps teeth stay comfortable, functional, and less likely to chip or decay.
If the enamel becomes thin or weak, teeth become sensitive. Hot or cold beverages and foods cause discomfort or pain in the affected tooth. Sweet items can cause pain. This is why your enamel needs to receive consistent attention and health care. It functions silently every day, but it still needs our help.
Drinks That Eat Away at Enamel
There are several types of drinks that easily wear away the enamel or stain it. They directly weaken the enamel due to a high acid content that breaks down the outer surface, or they contain large amounts of sugar that feed bacteria capable of causing tooth decay. Other drinks may not impact the strength of the enamel, but the pigments they contain darken the enamel and yellow the teeth.
Soda and Energy Drinks
Both of these drinks are particularly problematic because they both contain both enemies of your enamel: sugar and acid. The acid dissolves the surface layer of your enamel. The sugars provide those bacteria with an ample source of energy. If you consume either type of beverage frequently, you are providing an environment for erosion and cavities.
Sports Drinks
Some believe that sports drinks are a healthy alternative to soda due to their engineered ingredients, but too are often acidic and sugary. The more frequently you consume them, the greater the negative impact they have on your enamel. Endurance athletes need to especially be cautious of their sport drink intake during long training sessions.
Fruit Juice
Juice comes from fruit, but that does not make it gentle on teeth. Orange juice, lemonade, and similar drinks contain acids that wear down enamel over time, especially with frequent sipping. Natural fructose may not be highly processed, but it still helps oral microbes to survive and thrive.
Flavored Sparkling Water
Plain sparkling water is only mildly acidic and is of little concern in relation to enamel health. It is definitely better than carbonated sodas! Flavored varieties, however, often contain added acids or citrus ingredients. Drink enough of these highly acidic versions throughout the day and your enamel might pay the price.
Coffee Add-Ins
Black coffee tends to stain teeth more than erode them, but once sugar, whipped cream, flavored syrups, and sweet creamers enter the picture, the risk climbs. Hot coffee is consumed over a longer period of time, and iced coffee tends to be very sweetened and consumed in large amounts. Depending on how you like your coffee, you might not like the results on your enamel.
Foods That Damage Tooth Enamel
What you eat matters just as much as what you drink. All of the following items are best followed with a good rinse of plain water to reduce the deleterious effects of acid or sugar residue. Indeed, regular consumption of plain water is one of the best things you can do for your oral health.
Sour Candy
Sour candies rank extremely high among all foods in terms of potential damage to your enamel. These products stick to your teeth and include large amounts of sugar combined with acidic ingredients. Together, they are capable of causing significant damage to your teeth.
Citrus Fruits and Citrus Snacks
Oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits contribute to nutritionally valuable diets. However, eating citrus fruits regularly or constantly snacking on citrus products exposes your teeth to excessive amounts of acidity, which eventually weakens your enamel. Like many things in life, moderation is key.
Dried Fruit
Raisins, dried apricots, and similar mildly processed whole-foods are preferable to highly processed candies and snacks. Still, dried fruit can cling to teeth in the crowns and crevices, leaving sugar behind in hard to reach places. Be aware of what’s going on in your mouth and consider keeping some dental floss handy at all times.
Ice
If you are not sensitive to cold drinks, ice is relatively harmless, unless you chew it. Chewing ice is not good for your enamel! One of the most common causes of cracked teeth is the ice chewing habit. Not only does the ice cause rapid contraction and expansion of the tooth enamel due to temperature changes, its hardness is also problematic. The next time you think about chewing ice, just consider whether you would want to chew on pebbles. From the dental perspective, there’s not much difference.
Next Up: Avoid Bad Habits
Speaking of bad oral habits, in our next article we will discuss other habits that damage your tooth enamel. From brushing too hard to using teeth as tools, we consciously or unconsciously do things that risk severe damage to our teeth. If you feel that your eating or drinking habits have caused tooth sensitivity or excessive stains with your teeth, contact us at Lakeside Dental for a consultation.
