Even if you take great care of your dental health, it’s still possible to develop tooth decay or dental cavities. Depending on your diet, brushing and flossing may not be enough to keep your mouth and teeth clean and healthy. If certain foods are a staple in your daily diet, you may notice tooth discoloration, dental cavities, and tooth decay.
Foods That Can Damage Tooth Enamel
In order to take the best care possible of your teeth, you should know which foods can stand in the way of your oral health. The biggest threat to your tooth enamel is acid. This means that highly acidic foods have the potential to be very damaging to your teeth. In fact, acid damage is the number one cause of the weakening of tooth enamel.
Knowing the pH levels of different types of foods can help you determine the food’s acidity. There is a scale from one to seven that defines the acidity and alkalinity of a food. Foods with higher pH levels are less likely to harm your tooth enamel than those with lower numbers.
Highly acidic foods include:
- Lemons
- Grapefruits
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Grapes
Moderately acidic foods include:
- Maple syrup
- Honey
- Pickles
- Tomatoes
Lowest acidic foods include:
- Eggs
- Milk
- Cheese
Preventing Acid Damage
The best way to prevent acid from damaging your teeth is to steer clear of the highly acidic foods. Many are still good for your diet, but we suggest eating them sparingly or brushing your teeth immediately after a highly acidic meal.
If you think you may have enamel damage, please make an appointment with your general dentist. The more quickly the damage is caught, the easier it is to fix.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Garlock, please contact Garlock Orthodontics. Our family orthodontics office is located here in Aurora, Colorado.