We at Nashville Restorative Dentistry know that many of you in Franklin, Nashville, Middle Tennessee, and beyond are aware that sugary drinks and foods can be bad for your teeth and overall health. However, people often don’t realize how bad “diet” or “sugar-free” drinks that are still highly acidic can actually be. These often overlooked sources of acids can cause significant damage to tooth enamel and also harm the rest of your body (even though you are trying to make the healthier choice!). 

A problem that goes beyond sugar

Oral bacteria use the sugars we consume as their fuel and release acids as a byproduct or waste. This creates a destructive process responsible for progressive enamel erosion, leading to tooth decay (cavities or holes in the surfaces of the teeth). 

Diets that are overly high in acid create destructive imbalances in the mouth, making the oral environment overly acidic (low pH). “Tooth-friendly” products must have a pH as close to neutral (7.0 or higher) as possible.

Unlike acidic foods, beverages can “bathe” all tooth surfaces and wreak havoc, gradually softening and eroding the protective enamel. We encourage you to limit the following beverages that are high in dietary acids:

• Fruit juices
• Sport drinks
• Energy drinks
• Soft drinks/sodas
• Carbonated or fizzy drinks

We further encourage the following healthy behaviors to support a healthy, happy mouth: 

• Drink more water. The more you can replace sugary or acidic beverages with water, the better off you and your teeth will be. It’s highly refreshing. It helps prevent dry mouth (which also increases cavity risk) and supports healthy skin and sparkling teeth. And it’s obviously sugar-free and not acidic.
• Don’t sip. Remember how we said acids in drinks can “bathe” your teeth? If you must relish that tasty beverage, drink it in a shorter amount of time instead of sipping on it all day long. The shorter the exposure time to acid, the quicker the saliva can return the mouth to optimal pH levels.
• Wait 30 to 60 minutes to brush your teeth after having sugary or acidic foods and beverages. Why? By waiting to brush your teeth after they have come in contact with acids, you give saliva (a natural cleanser and “buffer”) the time necessary to help neutralize the pH level in your mouth. If you don’t wait, there is the potential for the brush to abrade away the layers of enamel, which acids have softened. 
• What gets measured gets managed. Consider buying test strips to monitor your mouth’s saliva pH. Let a pH of 4.0 or less be a red flag.
• Manage other medical conditions. Conditions such as GERD (reflux) cause stomach acids to flow into the mouth, resulting in a persistently acidic environment. By getting control of conditions that contribute to an acidic or low pH environment, you are also lowering your risk of damaging enamel and developing cavities.

We can also guide you on trusted products and techniques ranging from special kinds of toothpaste, gels, and rinses to help protect your teeth and manage threats from acids and sugars. 

We can even discuss professional preventative services to remineralize tooth structure and its natural “armor.” Call our Franklin, TN office today at (615) 640-8494 .

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