One of the biggest threats to your smile every single day is oral acid. More and more dentists are talking to their patients about how patients can minimize dental damage due to acid. Our Toluca Lake dentists are here to give you the information that you need in order to make good decisions for your smile, so keep reading to get started!
The first thing to know is that when oral bacteria in your mouth feed and grow, they naturally release acid. This bacteria-related acid weakens your dental enamel, and makes it easier for oral bacteria to penetrate your tooth structure.
It is impossible to totally avoid this type of acid, but you can certainly take steps to minimize it. For example, when you rinse your mouth frequently and clean your smile as recommended by your dentist you help to neutralize this acid.
Additionally, there are a number of everyday foods and drinks that have high acid contents. These environmental acids also weaken and thin dental enamel over time.
Here are some common culprits of environmental oral acid exposure:
· Coffee
· Tea
· Soft drinks
· Fruit juices
· Wine
· Beer
· Citrus fruits
· Berries
· Sour candies
When you do consume these kinds of substances, you can help protect your smile by rinsing your mouth with water promptly. You will want to wait at least 30 minutes after eating/drinking acidic things before you brush your teeth. Because your enamel is actually weaker after acid exposure, you may inadvertently buff away healthy enamel if you brush your teeth too soon.
As always our Toluca Lake dentists can give you more information about ways to protect your smile day in and day out. Please call our office when you are ready to speak with one of our helpful dentists!