Small changes to your lifestyle can dramatically help protect you teeth against acid erosion and tooth wear. Below are some tips to help you protect your teeth and change the pattern of destruction:
Erosion busting tips:
- Drink plenty of water after you consume any acidic food and drink. Increase water intake to 8 glasses per day. This will help wash the acid away and increase your saliva flow to neutralize the acid.
- Modify your diet and eliminate or moderate intake of acidic drinks and foods. It is the small amounts of acid you are consuming regularly rather than large amounts less often, that create the biggest problems.
- After consuming acidic food or drinks, wait at least an hour if possible before brushing your teeth. This is when the enamel is softest, time is required for the saliva to restore the mineral lost in the enamel.
- Limit the amount of times you consume acidic food and drinks. When having an acidic drink, use a straw angled to the back of the mouth to avoid contact with the teeth and do not swish the drink around your mouth.
- Consider eating some enamel friendly foods such as cheese and nuts to help neutralize the acid attack, after consuming acidic food and drink. Avoid consuming alcohol just prior to bed as this can leave a long lasting acid environment as your mouth becomes dry during sleep and you may increase the risk of acidic reflux.
- Use a calcium and phosphate containing toothpaste available online or at your dentist such as “tooth mousse” morning and night after brushing and do not rinse off. In extreme acid environments you can also rinse with a baking soda mouth rinse (one teaspoon dissolved in a glass of water) before and after meals.
- Chew sugar free gum such as “Extra” between meals.
- Avoid adopting habits promoted on social media, such as the recent trend towards consuming lemon and hot water. This is being promoted as an aid to digestion, but what we are seeing is an incredible increase in enamel thinning and general tooth destruction.
So get started today and get back on track to keeping your teeth for life. If you would like to read more about acid erosion you can also read our other article about erosion.