Acid Attack – Are Your Teeth In Danger?

Your teeth may be at risk. Did you know that consuming acidic foods and beverages can lead to acid erosion of your teeth? Once softened by exposure to acid, the enamel on your teeth weakens and can become more easily worn down, even just by brushing your teeth! If you tend to grind your teeth at night, it can quickly cause serious damage.

Often the first sign of this problem is an increased sensitivity to cold air or liquids. Episodes of acid exposure will open the pores of the teeth and any areas of dentin exposure, such as root surfaces, can become very sensitive.

Acid-softened teeth are much more vulnerable to cavities. That can mean a lot of extensive dental treatment.

Serious acid damage doesn’t happen with a single exposure, and your teeth have some ability to heal (remineralize). However, many repeated exposures can cause serious and irreversible tooth destruction.

This is a big problem. I am very alarmed by the amount of acid erosion and the resulting tooth sensitivity that I am seeing.

And most people HAVE NO IDEA that this is happening to them.

This is a real threat …

In recent years, I have seen more and more patients with this problem. One patient in particular was a new patient in my practice. His teeth were worn down to the gum line! Oh! I also noticed that many young adults who consume large amounts of cola and their teeth are being decimated by cavities (more on this later).

This acid erosion problem is not just age specific. I see A LOT at all ages, and it seems to get worse every year. Sure, people live longer and keep their natural teeth. However, that still doesn’t explain all the damage I’m seeing.

Watch out for acid bombs!

A key factor in this “epidemic” of acid damage is our modern diet. Many of the foods and beverages we consume contain very high levels of acid.

Acids that are commonly added to our foods include citric acid, acetic acid (vinegar), and phosphoric acid, all of which can significantly damage your enamel. So be sure to read the ingredient label.

Why are these acids added?

In most cases, to aid conservation. It is very widespread in the food industry.

Benzoic acid and its salt forms (sodium benzoate, potassium benzoate, etc.) are among the most widely used food preservatives in the world. It is cheap and very effective. Long shelf life translates to higher profits. In the food industry, it is used in a wide range of products, from jams, juices and salad dressings to ice cream, soft drinks and candies. It is also used in toothpaste, mouthwashes, and as an oxidation inhibitor in antifreeze.

Being weakly acidic, benzoic acid will not damage your enamel directly. The preservative effect of this chemical is pH dependent; works best in a low pH (acidic) environment. Other strong acids are being added to food and beverage products to establish a pH low enough for this preservative to work. Many food substances, such as soda, ice cream, and candy, are acidified (squeezed) in this way. That’s the big hidden acid spike that many of us are being attacked with!

On an additional note, benzoic acid can be combined with ascorbic acid (vitamin C)

to form benzene, a known carcinogen. Vitamin C is often added to food or drink as an antioxidant. These two ingredients are still used together in a wide range of beverages around the world (fortunately, banned in North America). Another good reason to read those ingredient labels.

Beware of the double dose!

A combination of high sugar and strong acid makes some of these foods and drinks particularly devastating to your teeth. Bacteria in the mouth can aggressively metabolize any available sugar to produce lactic acid. That means your teeth will be exposed to even more acid. This is why many children have recurring cavities. They were constantly hit with a double dose of acid from all the cola drinks they drink!

Diet drinks may be a bit gentler on the teeth, but some sugar substitutes (aspartame) can add an extra hit to the acid attack on our body.

More than just our teeth …

The damage from overexposure to acid only begins with our teeth. These synthetic “acid bombs” that we consume can alter our internal chemistry and drastically affect our overall health.

Our bodies will try to compensate for this excess acid in the diet, but at a price. Our alkaline stores are gradually being depleted, and as that happens, we begin to suffer the many consequences of chronic acidosis.

The following are some of the dangerous effects of chronic acidosis …

* Minerals (mainly calcium) are extracted from our organs and bones to neutralize excess acid. As calcium is extracted from our bones, we can eventually suffer from osteoporosis.

* Our kidneys are overloaded with acid build-up and experience a higher incidence of kidney stones.

* Digestion is affected because excess systemic acid can inhibit the production of stomach acid, as well as the alkalizing salts of the gallbladder and pancreas. We are left with acidic and poorly digested foods in our intestines that cause cramps, bloating and risk of intestinal infections.

* Capillary blood flow slows and acid waste removal is blocked at the cellular level, increasing the effects of cellular aging and increasing the risk of cellular transmutation (cancer).

* Acid build-up in the pancreas interferes with insulin production and leads to diabetes.

* Our energy levels drop and we suffer from chronic fatigue.

* Fat accumulates around our vital organs (to protect them) and we gain weight.

Chronic acidosis has been cited as the hidden but deadly disease that is the root cause of many of the serious ailments we suffer from. Dr. Leigh Connealy states, “Acidosis literally destroys the body from the inside out, paving the way for disease to take over.

Beware of these acidic foods!

Soft drinks (including lemon iced tea)

Sports drinks: Gatorade, Powerade, etc.

Energy drinks: Red Bull, Full Throttle, etc.

Citrus fruits: lemons, limes, grapefruits, etc.

Fruit salad

Fruit juices: lemonade, grapefruit, orange, apple, blueberry, etc.

Chewable Vitamin C (never suck on them)

Candies (especially sour candies)

Vinegar

Vinegar-based products like salad dressings and tomato sauce

White or red wine

Conclusion: enamel loss is progressive. If allowed to advance, your teeth can be seriously compromised.

What you can do:

* Be alarmed. Take this seriously and don’t let your teeth fall victim to food wars. Pay attention to the ingredients and start limiting your exposure to acidic foods and drinks.

* Be realistic. Call it junk food for what it is, not a “special treat” you’ve earned. Avoid associating “comfort” with poor food choices. Try choosing healthy snack alternatives like raw nuts and vegetables

* Stop the pop! Look for healthy alternatives, like mineral water. If allowed, limit the frequency, duration, and concentration of acid exposure.

* Cut the candy. Master your sweet tooth before the addiction consumes you. Sour candies, which are dosed with citric, malic and / or tartaric acids, are very unpleasant.

* Limit your exposure time. Eating or drinking something slowly during the day will do more harm than a large exposure.

* Sprinkle your juices. Many juices have concentrated acid and sugar content, to the point that they cannot even quench your thirst. Consider adding at least half the water (2/3 is my preference). Stay away from lemon iced tea.

* Good hygiene. Keep clothes for brushing and flossing. Make sure to use fluoride toothpaste to help strengthen your teeth. Avoid brushing your teeth immediately after consuming acidic foods or drinks, as this is when the enamel is softest and most likely to be damaged. Instead, just rinse with water.

* We can help. Stay healthy and keep your teeth for life with your hygiene visits. We’ll keep an eye on the acid damage. If the damage is already significant, we can help restore and protect the affected teeth with options like adhesives, porcelain veneers, or crowns.