Food & Beverages That Cause Teeth Erosion

Food & Drinks to Avoid To Reduce Teeth Erosion

You already avoid soda and gummy candy loaded with sugar that can damage your teeth and cause cavities. As dentists, we appreciate your effort. But these items are not the only foods and beverages that can spark teeth erosion.

A range of foods, some of them considered healthy, can also contribute to acid erosion on teeth. The causes often include citrus-based and sour foods. Here are some symptoms of tooth erosion to be mindful of and a list of food and beverages you should avoid to keep your teeth healthy.

Signs of Acid Teeth Erosion

When the enamel on your teeth begins to wear away, you may notice uncomfortable symptoms, such as:

• Sensitivity in the teeth when you eat or drink hot or cold consumables
• Changes in the color of your fillings
• Discoloration of the teeth, which will likely turn yellow

In extreme cases, you may lose a tooth or develop an abscess when tooth erosion gets bad. You may need to get dental treatment for cavities or root issues, or talk to your dentist about veneers for severe discoloration.

Foods and Beverages That Erode Enamel

If you recognize signs of tooth erosion, you should reduce the consumption of certain foods. While you may not want to cut them out of your diet entirely, one trick that will help is to eat them with other foods so that their impact is slightly diluted. For instance, tomatoes contain a lot of acid. Eat them on a sandwich instead of on their own as a snack to reduce the amount of acid your teeth are exposed to.

Other foods that can be bad for your teeth include:

• Oranges and orange juice: These options have a high acid content that can damage your teeth.
• Dried fruit: Raisins, prunes and other dried fruits have lots of nutrients, but they are also sticky and can get stuck to your teeth. If you do not get all the fruit off, the sugar can adhere to your teeth and erode the enamel.
• Sports drinks: While many people think of sports drinks as healthy and necessary after a hard exercise session, these beverages are loaded with sugar and acid. If you drink them during exercise and keep them in your mouth for a few moments, you are providing more time for the acid to get on your teeth.
• Sports gels and gummies: Many endurance athletes use these snacks for quick hits of energy during their performance, but the high sugar content can lead to tooth erosion.
• Sour candy: Candy of any type is not good for you, of course, but sour candy often has citrus flavoring that can erode teeth.
• Lemon juice: A squirt of lemon juice in your water seems harmless but can deliver a lot of acid.

Also, watch out for flavorings in your beverages. Anything citrus flavored likely has a lot of acid, such as a limeade or lemonade.

Is your toothpaste secretly damaging your enamel? Check your brand’s safety score on our RDA Chart.

Have you noticed tooth erosion in your mouth due to your diet? Get your teeth checked at 209 NYC Dental. Give us a call at 212-355-2290 to set up an appointment.