Did you know that that consuming too many acidic foods, as well as eating more sugary foods and drinks can potentially increase the risk of dental erosion and tooth decay?

Here are my top tips to prevent decay and acid erosion.

1. Limit your sugary snacks and drinks to mealtimes only. Each time you are having sugar or acid this causes an acid attack on your teeth. If you are having a packet of sweets eat them all at once after a meal instead of having them throughout the day. The frequency of the sugar or acid is the problem. The same applies to sugary or acidic drinks such as fruit teas, white wine, fizzy drinks, fruit juices & flavoured water.

2. If you don’t want to give up your fizzy drinks or white wine you are better drinking them with plenty of ice and consider drinking through a straw to avoid the liquid hitting your teeth as much as possible.

3. Avoid swishing acidic and sugary drinks around your mouth.

4. Avoid brushing straight after meals and after consumption of acidic or sugary snacks and drinks. When you eat or drink anything sugary, the bacteria on your teeth turn the sugar into energy and acid. This acid softens and dissolves the hard enamel surface of your teeth. This is called demineralisation. The same process of demineralisation happens when you eat or drink something acidic. Over time, demineralisation can cause cavities to form in your teeth. This is known as tooth decay or caries. Demineralisation can also cause effects of acid erosion to show on your teeth.

5. Try and brush before you have acidic or sugary foods and drinks, if this is not possible you can chew sugar free gum after meals to produce more saliva. This helps to neutralise the ph levels in your mouth. The minerals from saliva are the same minerals as from teeth, meaning saliva helps repair teeth.

6. To prevent tooth decay limit treats to mealtimes for your children and try to avoid sugary snacks and fruit juices in their lunchboxes. Try and stick to plain water and milk as much as possible.

7. Avoid giving your children sugary drinks before bed and to keep by their bed throughout the night. If they do get thirsty only allow them to have plain water otherwise the sugar will be on their teeth throughout the whole night.

8. Avoid putting sugary drinks, juices, cold tea etc in a bottle or beaker for your baby or child. Try to stick to plain water or milk whenever possible. The beakers & bottles allow the sugar to flow directly onto the teeth. Try and coax your child into drinking through a straw whenever possible. There are many fun & washable ones available at a low cost.

9. Beware of the ‘no added sugar’ cordials as these still contain a lot of sugar.

10. Brush thoroughly twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and avoid toothpastes that claim to whiten your teeth as these can be very abrasive. Use a fluoride mouthwash and a medium bristled toothbrush with a small head for easier access to the back teeth. Try and floss twice daily or use Interdental brushes between your teeth to remove bacteria or trapped food which cannot be accessed with your toothbrush.

11. Visit your dentist twice a year for a check up and any cleaning needed to prevent future problems.

If you have any questions about this article please phone me on 0161 4857376

Written by Rachel Jackson