Reduce Your Acidic Food Intake To Protect Your Tooth Enamel

While it's common knowledge that a diet high in refined sugars can increase your risk of getting cavities, you might not know that some healthy foods can actually be detrimental to your tooth health, too. Foods that have a high level of acidity might not possess the same overall health risks as soda, candy and ice cream, but they can be nonetheless a concern for your teeth. Over time, the frequent consumption of high-acid foods can cause your tooth enamel to break down, which can make your risk of getting cavities higher. You can lessen this risk, however, by avoiding significant quantities of the following foods.

Cut Back On These Fruits

Despite their value in terms of providing vitamins and minerals, many fruits are high in acid. Lemons are an obvious culprit, given their tart taste. Many other fruits, including citrus fruits such as oranges and limes, as well as berries such as blueberries and raspberries, are also high in acid. Apples and pears also fall into this category. While it isn't advisable to completely eliminate your intake of these fruits, given their other health benefits, try to eat them only moderately. You can also make some simple changes; for example, if you enjoy apple juice or orange juice, it's easy to find low-acid varieties of these beverages at your supermarket.

Steer Clear Of These, Too

While many types of fruit are known for their high acid concentration, other foods can also provide a hefty dose of acid that could be detrimental to your tooth enamel. Tomatoes — which are technically a fruit but commonly grouped in with vegetables by many people — are high in acid, as is tomato juice. Many pickled foods, given the prolific use of vinegar in the pickling process, are also high in acid. Pickles, pickled eggs, pickled onions and other such products have a significant acid content.

Take These Steps After Eating

You shouldn't feel bad if you've consumed acidic food — but you should take steps to counteract doing so quickly. The best thing to do is to brush your teeth soon after eating, which is possible at home but not necessarily practical elsewhere. A simple step that you can take in other environments is to simply have a glass or bottle of water. Swish the water around in your mouth for a moment before swallowing it, too. Doing so helps to remove the acid that is sitting on your teeth from what you ate.

For more tips and advice for dealing with acid damage, talk with a dentist, such as those at Carpenter Dental.

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