Dental Erosion: What Food and Drinks Can Impact the Teeth?

Dental erosion is the damage or softening of the surface of your teeth due to the acids you eat or drink, or the acids that come up from your stomach. Food and drinks with high levels of acidity can cause damaged dental enamel and make it easier for it to be worn away by abrasion or teeth grinding. This is also known as acid wear.

Food with high levels of acidity are very common and include things you may eat or drink every day without realising the damage they can cause to your teeth. Any foods with a pH level below 7 are considered acidic, while anything above pH 7 are alkaline. Here are some of the most common acidic food and drinks that can cause damaged dental enamel and lead to dental erosion:

• Citrus fruits including lemons, oranges, grapefruit and berries

• Tomatoes and tomato-based products like sauces

• Processed foods like tinned soup or salad dressings

• Sugary treats like sweets, cakes and chocolate

• Fizzy drinks

• Tea and coffee

• Dairy products including some cheeses and yoghurts

• Spicy foods like curry or foods that contain chillies

• Alcoholic drinks like beer and wine

• Fast food or deep-fried food

When foods and drinks that have a high level of acidity cause damaged dental enamel it can cause the appearance of your teeth to change and also allows bacteria in that can cause decay or infection.

If you’re experiencing dental erosion and your tooth enamel has started to wear away you may notice signs including:

• Pain or sensitivity when eating or drinking things that are particularly hot, cold or sweet.

• Notice discolouration of your teeth including white, brown, black or grey spots.

• Feel that your fillings have changed.

• In extreme cases you may develop an abscess or experience tooth loss.

Once your tooth enamel is gone it can’t be restored, in these cases you’ll need professional dentist treatments including fillings, root canal, crowns or tooth extraction. Dentists may be able to restore your smile using veneers, however, this is an expensive solution.

There are several things you can do to help reduce dental erosion and the effect it can have on your teeth. Using a fluoride toothpaste that has been specially formulated to remineralise damaged dental enamel and protect against erosion can help – for example, elmex Opti-Enamel Sealant and Strengthening Toothpaste.

Some other things you can do to prevent further dental erosion include:

• Limit your consumption of acidic food and drinks – try to eat these things at meal times instead of continuously snacking through the day.

• Finish meals with cheese or milk to help to neutralise the acidity in your mouth.

• Chew sugar-free gum to help stimulate saliva production.

• Drink mostly non-acidic drinks including water, milk or very diluted sugar-free squash.

• Drink through a straw and don’t swish drinks around your mouth.

• If you’re snacking between meals, stick to veggies, nuts or cheese.

• Wait for an hour after eating acidic food or drinks before brushing your teeth – brushing straight after can cause more damage to your teeth.

When it comes to tooth enamel, keeping your teeth healthy and preventing damage is always the best course of action. Follow a good oral hygiene routine and visit your dentist regularly for checkups and professional cleaning.