Citrus fruits can weaken tooth enamel; rinse with water and limit juice, say health tips
Acid in fruits such as lemon, grapes and pineapple can erode the protective outer layer of teeth, but citrus need not be avoided altogether.
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Keeping the mouth clean is essential for healthy teeth. Health experts advise everyone to brush properly twice a day and eat fewer sweet things. But that alone is not enough for dental health. What a person eats and drinks every day has a direct effect on the teeth.
Many people now eat more fruit for good health, drink lemon water or take fresh fruit juice. These provide the body with essential vitamins and other nutrients. But the acid present in some of them can damage the protective layer of the teeth. This outer layer of the tooth is called enamel, and it plays an important role in protecting the teeth.
When enamel is weakened by contact with acid, the teeth can become sensitive to hot, cold or sweet things. If this condition continues for long, it can also affect the strength of the teeth. For this reason, it is important to know which fruits call for caution.
The amount of acid in a food is measured by its pH value. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), substances with a pH above 7 are considered alkaline, while those with a pH below 7 are acidic. The lower the pH, the greater the acidity.
The pH of some fruits is given as follows: lemon juice 2.00 to 2.60, grapes 2.90 to 3.82, pomegranate 2.93 to 3.20, blueberries 3.11 to 3.33 and pineapple 3.20 to 4.00.
On how acid harms the teeth, repeated exposure to acidic foods can weaken enamel, the outer layer of the tooth. This makes teeth decay faster. A tingling sensation may be felt in the teeth when eating or drinking something hot, cold or sweet. Discolouration and wearing away of the tooth surface can also be symptoms. Saliva helps neutralise acid and replenish minerals in the teeth, but a constant intake of acidic food and drink can raise the risk of tooth decay.
Vitamin C is extremely important for the body. Its deficiency can cause a disease called scurvy, in which the gums bleed. Instead of avoiding citrus fruits altogether, it is therefore advised to eat them in limited quantities.
The following steps are advised to keep teeth healthy: rinse the mouth with plain water after eating citrus fruits. Avoid sipping fruit juice slowly over a long time. A straw can be used when drinking acidic beverages. Use fluoride toothpaste. And maintain good oral hygiene to protect the teeth from damage.
