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Protect Your Teeth From Erosion

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Flickr: abductos

I've heard of beach erosion, but teeth erosion? I always thought you just get cavities.

Nope. It turns out if you're drinking a lot of citrus juices, tea and soda you're probably slowly wearing away the enamel on your teeth.

So, how do you fix it? Well, the answer is pretty simple. Whatever bad stuff you're drinking, stop!

Researchers base their recommendation on a new study, published in the journal General Dentistry, which determined the acidity and amount of erosion certain beverages, such as soda, water, orange juice, and green tea cause to teeth.

No surprise. Basically everything except water puts a beating on your choppers.

As for protecting your teeth, experts say first you need to talk to a dentist and determine the culprit. Then you have to learn exactly what it's doing to your teeth, and lastly stop or reduce consumption of the suspected food or beverage.

Yeah, kind of a non-brainer, but still good to know. After all, no one wants a visit from the Cavity Creeps!

Via EurakAlert!

More like this in Science · Jul 21, 2009
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5 Comments

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Jody - Fit at 51 on 07/21/09

More help.... can't they provide dental insurance that actually covers something. I think dental insurance needs an overhaul too. If you buy it individually, it basically covers hardly anything & even company insurance does not do a lot based on the cost of many procedures.

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Kellie - My Health Software on 07/21/09

Didn't we already know this? It just confirms to me that water is really the best drink!

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Spectra on 07/22/09

I have a small Diet Coke vice that I sort of refuse to give up, but my teeth are ok. I drink a lot of water, chew sugarless gum, and eat a lot of "abrasive" foods to keep the wear and tear minimal. Recently, I've switched to an enamel-protecting toothpaste for even more protection.

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Dr. J on 07/22/09

If you gotta have it, consider using a straw to drink, I think it will protect your teeth to a degree.

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lynn on 07/23/09

my dentist told me to wait 1/2 an hour before brushing if i drink an acidic drink. the beverage immediately makes the enamel soften and if you dont wait it can be brushed off. also dont sip a little here and there. drink it quickly and rinse with plain water afterward. i live on decaf iced tea with fresh lemon in the summer so i protect my teeth as much as possible.

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