Avoiding Dental Damage From Acids
Acid can cause extensive damage to your tooth enamel. The corrosive substance dissolves the minerals that make up the tooth material. Thus, as your teeth are exposed to acids from different sources, they begin to decay.
Calcium, phosphorous, and other important minerals are displaced from the enamel, weakening the tooth and causing the formation of cavities. Although cavities can be treated using dental fillings or crowns, the dental damage can be avoided.
Here are a few ways to avoid the oral health challenges caused by acid-exposure.
Brush and Floss as Frequently as Directed
Your dentist generally suggests that you brush your teeth at least twice daily and floss at least once. These hygienic practices help remove bacteria from your mouth.
Oral bacteria produce acids as byproducts of their microbial digestion. Thus, as they feed and multiply, your teeth are exposed to increasingly concentrated amounts of acid.
The bacteria multiply rapidly when there is a bountiful supply of food available. Since many of these microbes feed on simple sugars, it is important to clean leftover particles of carbohydrates from the mouth regularly.
If left in place, these particles combine with the microbes to form sticky plaque that adheres to the teeth and places them in direct contact with the acids. Brushing and flossing helps eliminate plaque and large numbers of bacteria.
Limit Acidic Foods and Beverages
Many foods and drinks, such as citrus fruits and sodas, introduce acid into the mouth. Fruits offer nutritional benefits. Thus, you may not want to fully eliminate them from your diet. However, sodas offer few vitamins or minerals, and regular sodas also have a high sugar content that further contributes to decay.
The acids from a soda can rapidly dissolve the tooth enamel, even if the soda is sugar-free. As a result, the more sodas that you consume, the greater the damage to your teeth is likely to be.
Use a Fluoride Mouth Rinse
Fluoride can help reduce the acid-related damage to your teeth through remineralization. The substance attracts displaced minerals back to the enamel to form new tooth material that is actually more acid-resistant than the original enamel.
A fluoride rinse can be used immediately after you brush and floss. Just be sure to avoid swallowing the mouthwash, since the ingestion of large amounts of fluoride can be harmful.
To learn more ways to protect your teeth from acid damage, schedule a consultation with a dental clinic, like Silverstone Family Dental .