Do you love sour foods and candies? Sour treats contain citric or tartaric acid, these acids can cause irritation of the tongue and irreversible dental erosion. That does not mean that you must give up your citric fruits or neglect the occasional sour snack candy, it does mean that you should be cautious of overdoing it and follow some dental health tips.
How to Protect Your Mouth Against the Impact of Sour Foods
- Reduce or eliminate consumption of sour candies. Sour candies can affect your teeth much more than sour fruits. These candies impact your dental health largely because of the amount of time they are kept in the mouth. Ongoing sucking or chewing on sour candies produces an acid environment that attacks on your teeth.
- When you eat sour candy, make sure to rinse your mouth afterwards to remove remaining acid and reduce the repercussions of that acid sitting on your teeth.
- If you do choose sour candies, foods or drinks, wait one hour before brushing your teeth. Since sour or acid substances weaken the tooth enamel, brushing your teeth can further damage your enamel when it is in this weakened state.
- Brush your teeth regularly (not directly after eating sour foods) with toothpaste that contains fluoride and a soft toothbrush. Fluoride works to strengthen enamel, and a soft brush cleans your teeth gently, without damaging the gums or enamel.
- Chewing sugar-free gum is helpful to the teeth because gum chewing produces saliva; saliva helps to protect tooth enamel.
The Importance of Safeguarding Your Tooth Enamel
Tooth enamel is the outer layer of each tooth, and it is the most visible part of the tooth. Enamel serves a very important purpose for your teeth, protecting your teeth from decay. When the enamel is destroyed your body does not produce more. If the enamel protection on your teeth is diminished, this can cause tooth erosion. Tooth sensitivity and discoloration are early warning signs that can lead to more severe stages with continued acid attacks. Make sure to follow the tips listed above to help keep your enamel healthy and protecting your teeth for as long as possible.