The Oral Health Connection By Penny Judson-Benny Registered Dental Hygienist - Sport and Acidic Drinks- Tough on Teeth!

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Dental erosion or the loss of protective enamel on the teeth occurs when enamel is worn away by acids in the mouth, leaving the teeth sensitive, cracked and discoloured.  Erosion is a chemical process of tooth destruction.
Dental experts state that people's teeth are wearing away at a faster rate than ever. Why is this happening? Experts blame what people are drinking and how they are drinking it, for the most part.
Soft drinks, sport drinks, fruit juices and teas all contain high amounts of acid. The sugar in most of these drinks also influences acid production on the teeth.  When bacterial plaque on the teeth absorbs the sugar from drinks and foods, it excretes an acid that eats away at tooth enamel. If juice or a soft drink is held in the mouth to enjoy the flavour or the fizzing action, it increases exposure to acids and sugars in the drinks. More damage occurs on the teeth when you drink a large amount and hold it in the mouth to savour the flavour.
Other things that contribute to dental erosion are medications such as aspirin, acid reflux disease or eating disorders associated with chronic vomiting, which expose the teeth to gastric acid.
Dental erosion is also increasing because people are not getting enough fluoride. Many people drink bottled water instead of water from flouridated public water sources. They are also substituting soft drinks and juices for water.
Flouride helps strengthen enamel, whereas erosion is an attack on the enamel.
Flouride provides a protective and strengthening mechanism when the teeth are under attack.  It is most important that a fluoride toothpaste and/or mouthrinse be used regularly.
It is best to hold off on brushing your teeth for a half hour after drinking a soda or juice. Brushing immediately after having an acidic drink can damage the teeth. The scrubbing action may remove a microscopic layer of enamel that has been softened by an acid attack. This layer may have been protected by the minerals in your saliva.  Saliva helps protect teeth from our bad behaviours by working to return the PH balance in the mouth to normal and restore minerals leached away by food acids.
If you frequently consume sport drinks, an acid-neutralizing, remineralizing toothpaste should be used regularly to help re-harden soft enamel.

‘Keep your smile for a lifetime!’

Penny Judson-Benny, RDH, is the owner and operator of Mountain View Dental Hygiene Clinic in Black Diamond and can be contacted at 403-933-7722.