Acidic Foods Threaten Tooth Enamel

When you think of foods that cause tooth decay, you probably think of sugary, sticky foods and drink, but did you know that acidic foods can be just as harmful? High-acid foods and drinks will slowly wear away the outer enamel protecting your teeth, causing cavities, sensitivity and discoloration. Does that mean you have to give up your favorite cup of coffee, glass of wine, or morning grapefruit? Absolutely not! Read on to find out how to prevent acidic foods from damaging your teeth.

How Do Acidic Foods Erode Your Teeth?

The enamel on the outside of your teeth is made primarily of calcium. Unfortunately, acid leaches the calcium from your tooth enamel, causing the protective surface to soften and break down. This process can lead to serious dental problems, so it’s important to pay attention to early warning signs like sensitivity and discoloration. Here are some common signs of tooth erosion caused by acidic foods.

Sensitivity. If you are experiencing pain when you consume hot, cold, or sweet food and drink, it means that your enamel is starting to wear away. The sensitivity will increase as more and more enamel wears away.

• Discoloration. Thinning enamel will eventually expose the underlying dentin, which has a yellowish tinge. 
• Rounded teeth. Your teeth may appear rounded from the wearing away of the enamel. .
• Transparency. Your teeth may appear translucent, especially around the edges. 
• Cracks. As the enamel continues to wear away, small cracks and fissures may start to appear on the surface of your teeth. 
• Cupping. You may notice small dents on the chewing surface of your teeth. 

High-Acidic Food that Damages Tooth Enamel

• Carbonated soft drinks. Sodas and soft drinks all contain high levels of acid, even diet options.
• Wine
• Fruit juice. The most acidic options include lemon, cranberry, orange and apple.
• Citrus fruits. Oranges, lemons, grapefruit, etc.
• Candy. While all candy tends to damage the teeth, sour and chewy candies contain the most acid.
• Sugar. Although sugar doesn’t contain acid, it does promote the growth of bacteria that creates acid in your mouth. 

You can Reduce the Effects of Acid on Your Teeth

You don’t have to give up your favorite acidic foods entirely, but you should use caution if you want to protect your teeth. Here are some tips to reduce the damaging effects of acid on your pearly whites.

• Stop snacking on acidic foods between meals. If you’re craving acidic foods or drink, eat them with other foods at mealtimes. This will reduce their contact with your teeth and help neutralize the acid.  
• Drink water with acidic foods. This will help wash away the acid from your teeth.
• Use a straw. This will minimize the contact between acidic drinks and your teeth.
• Avoid carbonated drinks
• Don’t brush immediately after a meal. Acid softens your enamel, so brushing immediately after eating might actually harm your teeth. Instead, rinse your mouth with water and brush a half hour after eating. 

At Lake Dental Clinic in Camdenton, we’re committed to your oral health. If you’re experiencing sensitivity, discoloration, or transparency, please schedule an appointment.

Affordable Dentistry

Dental health has a direct connection with overall wellbeing. A healthy lifestyle can lead to minimizing oral diseases and dental problems which improve a person’s quality of life. One of the most important things you can do for your dental wellbeing, and your wallet, is to regularly visit your dentist for checkups. Preventive dentistry and early detection help to minimize long-term costs for good oral health.

Many dental practices offer flexible and affordable programs to help their patients’ budget for treatment. This service is a significant help for patients with hereditary or medical dental problems, as well as those who are operating on a very tight budget. 

Insurance

Dental insurance is widely available and packages are created to address specific needs, such as providing discounts for families, or including wellness checkups at no extra cost to the patient. Most insurance companies offer an online customer service center and free tools, such as a cost calculator, or comparative rates so that you can fully review all available plans before committing to a policy.

It’s also worth checking with your dental provider. The office manager or finance manager may be able to assist you in understanding benefits or available providers. Most dental offices will help you file paperwork to achieve the most benefit possible for your treatment.

Financing Plans

Financing plans often function in the same way as credit cards. The healthcare credit card can be used to pay for preventive and, in some cases, cosmetic dental treatments and procedures. Two of the more widely accepted plans include Care Credit and Citi Health Care

Financing plans offers a low interest payment options that covers numerous preventive and restorative dental care, to include:

• 6-month checkups and cleanings
• Emergency root canals or extractions
• Gum Disease treatment and maintenance
• Restorations
• Mouthguards

The financial plans do not require an annual fee, nor is there a fee to apply. Additional benefits to financial plans include:

• Navigational friendly online account management
• Flexible payment terms with low monthly payments to fit budget needs
• Family members’ dental care is covered under card 
• Helps patients pay for their portion of treatment after insurance benefits are applied

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your insurance benefits, lack of insurance or need for more affordable dental plans, please contact our Camdenton dental office during business hours to schedule a consultation to discuss your payment options.

Cavity Prevention Tips

To prevent dental caries and cavities, it is important to keep teeth and gums clean and free of disease causing bacteria. With proper brushing and flossing home care and routine professional cleanings, it is possible to prevent tooth decay in between dental exams.

Brushing
When you eat, sugars and starches tend to stick on the surface of the teeth, or take up residence in the tight spaces between the teeth. Bacteria that naturally exists within the mouth break the sugar and starches down, creating an acid that can erode teeth creating the cavity in tooth enamel.

To help get rid of the food and clean away any sticky residue, the American Dental Association recommends brushing teeth at least twice a day, and preferably after each meal. By using a fluoride toothpaste when brushing you are further strengthening the tooth’s enamel, replacing lost minerals, and helping to repair the minor damage done in the early stages of decay.

TIP – If you are not able to clean your teeth after eating, consider rinsing your mouth with water or chewing sugar-free gum to help remove remaining food debris from your teeth.

Flossing
Flossing makes it possible to remove debris and dental plaque from the tight spaces between teeth, especially teeth that are misaligned, crooked or unevenly spaced, which are susceptible to cavities. Flossing after meals will help prevent plaque build-up to avoid gum disease.

TIP - Inter-dental cleaners are available in various forms, including flosses, brushes, and picks for easy dental care throughout the day. 

Nutrition and Snacking
Tooth decay is often a cause of eating foods that are high in carbohydrates and simple sugars, such as candy, potato chips, and cookies. Avoid eating food that can get easily stuck in the natural grooves and cavities of the teeth and instead eat tooth-friendly foods, like fruit and vegetables. Chewing sugar-free gum, and drinking water are good ways of increasing saliva flow, flushing out the mouth and removing unwanted food particles.

TIP – Avoid hard candy, especially lollipops, if you cannot brush immediately afterward. These sugary sweets take time to dissolve creating a longer contact period with your teeth and gums, a bacterium’s dream world as it feeds off the sugary goodness.

Dental Sealants
Dental sealants – also known as pit and fissure sealants – are thin protective coatings of plastic that seal the grooves and crevices of the natural tooth, preventing the opportunity for decay. Sealants are usually applied to the back teeth (molars); the coating prevents the enamel from acidic erosion and can last up to ten years.

TIP – Most dentists offer this preventive techniques to children. Check with your dentist if they have sealants available for adults. The coating has a long life, but will not last forever; a reapplication might help you out especially if you have soft teeth or are medically prone to tooth decay.

Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride is available in various formats, from toothpastes and rinses, to professional concentrated fluoride delivery. Dentists and hygienists often offer professional fluoride treatments in-house in the form of a dental gel, foam, or solution. The treatment is applied to the enamel using a swab and is usually over after only a few minutes.

TIP – If you are going to have your children take fluoride supplements purchased elsewhere, talk to your dentist beforehand about amounts and length of use. Excessive fluoride can create white spots or streaks on developing teeth, called fluorisis. 

As with all dental issues, the best in cavity prevention advice comes from your dental professional. Your dentist or hygienist at Lake Dental Clinic can custom design cavity prevention techniques and treatment plans to address your specific issues, budget and lifestyle. Contact our Camdenton dental office today!