Dental Enamel – How to Protect And Restore It

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:11:22 +0000

Tooth enamel is tough, harder even than skeletal bone. But even with good dental hygiene, the enamel protecting teeth may show signs of decay in older adults. The January 2010 issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter covers what to look out for and what to do to promote an enamel-friendly setting in the mouth. According [...]

Drinking Home Brewed Tea Avoids Tooth Enamel Erosion

admin — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 04:29:03 +0000

Today the average size soft drink is 20 ounces and contains 17 teaspoons of sugar. More startling is that some citric acids found in fruit drinks are more erosive than hydrochloric or sulfuric acid – which is also known as battery acid. These refined sugars and acids found in soda and citrus juice promote tooth [...]

Study Shows Popular Energy Drinks Cause Tooth Erosion

admin — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 03:08:19 +0000

For more than 10 years, energy drinks in the United States have been on the rise, promising consumers more “oomph” in their day. In fact, it is estimated that the energy drink market will hit $10 billion by 2010.

While that may be great news for energy drink companies, it could mean a different story for the oral health of consumers who sometimes rely daily on these drinks for that extra boost.

Previous scientific research findings have helped to warn consumers that the pH (potential of hydrogen) levels in beverages such as soda could lead to tooth erosion, the breakdown of tooth structure caused by the effect of acid on the teeth that leads to decay. The studies revealed that, whether diet or regular, ice tea or root beer, the acidity level in popular beverages that consumers drink every day contributes to the erosion of enamel.

However, in a recent study that appears in the November/December 2007 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD) clinical, peer reviewed journal, the pH level of soft drinks isn’t the only factor that causes dental erosion. A beverage’s “buffering capacity,” or the ability to neutralize acid, plays a significant role in the cause of dental erosion.

The study examined the acidity levels of five popular beverages on the market. The results proved that popular “high energy” and sports drinks had the highest mean buffering capacity, resulting in the strongest potential for erosion of enamel.

According to the study, the popularity of energy drinks is on the rise, especially among adolescents and young adults. Their permanent teeth are more susceptible to attack from the acids found in soft drinks, due to the porous quality of their immature tooth enamel. As a result, there is high potential for erosion among this age demographic to increase.

In fact, Raymond Martin, DDS, MAGD, AGD spokesperson, says he treats more patients in their teens to 20s for tooth erosion. “They drink a great deal more sodas, sports drinks, and energy drinks,” he says. “The results, if not treated early and if extensive, can lead to very severe dental issues that would require full mouth rehabilitation to correct,” says Dr. Martin.

Drink responsibly for your oral health:

– Use a straw positioned at the back of the mouth so that the liquid avoids the teeth
– Rinse the mouth with water after drinking acidic beverages
– Limit the intake of sodas, sports drinks and energy drinks

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Recalls and Safety Issues » tooth enamel

Dental Enamel – How to Protect And Restore It

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