Are “Healthy” Drinks Destroying Your Teeth?
Scientific Research Reveals How Fruit Juices, Lassi, and Flavored Water Can Cause Irreversible Enamel Damage—And What You Can Do to Prevent It
By Real contentPublished 6 months ago • 4 min read
- Lassi, fruit water or fruit juice may seem like a healthy alternative to fizzy drinks, but scientists have proven that these types of drinks can cause irreparable damage to our teeth.
However, not everything is bad. A team from King’s College London has discovered that our drinking habits and the way we drink can significantly prevent tooth decay. I met the team to try it out on my own teeth.
As children, while we were always warned about ‘cavities’, small holes that form in our teeth, we were also told how sweets and chocolate could ruin our smiles.
When we eat sweet foods, the natural bacteria that grow on our teeth eat the sugar particles in our mouth, which causes holes in our teeth. Unless these holes are very large, they can usually be filled.
But ‘filling’ teeth is a different matter. Acidic substances in food target the outer layer of the teeth and gradually wear it down, destroying the inner layer of the tooth.
Enamel protects the soft layers of the teeth, but it cannot defend against the constant effects of acid and sugar, and once this layer is gone, there is no way to get it back.
When we eat sugary foods, the natural bacteria that live on our teeth eat away at the sugar particles in our mouths, causing cavities.
Dentist and dental surgeon Dr Polyvoos Charalambous, a member of the King’s College London research team and a member of the research team at King’s College London, says that tooth decay occurs when “the enamel of the teeth is affected by acid and excessive consumption of sugary foods and drinks.”
He added that “if left untreated, it can lead to a range of dental problems, including stains, fractures, chipping of the edges of the teeth, and sensitivity to cold or heat.
What to drink to protect your teeth from damage and when?
Dr Polyvoos used a pH meter to measure the acidity in my mouth while I drank orange juice three different ways. I took a sip, swished it around in my mouth and held it in my mouth for a while before swallowing.
To protect teeth, the pH level in the mouth should be around seven.
Drinking cantaloupe juice dropped the pH to 4.7, while it took 18 seconds for it to return to seven, the neutral level.
Holding the juice in the mouth (for 10 seconds) increased the acidity and it took five times longer to return to normal.
Swirl the juice in the mouth dropped the pH to three and it took more than 30 times longer to return.
The experiment found that holding or swirl acidic drinks in the mouth causes more damage to the teeth, because these habits increase the time and intensity of contact between the acidic drink and the tooth surface.
Dr. Polyovis says, “To protect your teeth, don’t keep acidic drinks in your mouth for too long. You can also use a straw to minimize contact with your teeth.” Research supports that using a straw reduces tooth decay caused by fizzy drinks.
A team from King's College London found that consuming acidic foods and drinks between meals is the biggest risk factor for tooth decay.
People who drank soft drinks, lemonade or hot fruit-flavoured tea twice a day between breakfast and lunch or between lunch and dinner were 11 times more likely to have moderate or severe tooth decay.
This rate was halved when such drinks were consumed with meals. So by timing your drinks with, or immediately before or after, your meals, you can better protect your teeth.
The most damaging drink for teeth
The King's College team compared the effects of four different drinks on tooth erosion by immersing enamel samples in canola juice, cola, iced tea (lassie) and fruit tea.
The damage seen after one hour was equivalent to drinking three glasses of these products over two days. Microscopic images showed erosion in the samples as a deep line.
The results were surprising: fizzy drinks caused the most damage to the enamel, followed by canola juice, red berry tea and finally lassi, which had the least effect on teeth.
The most harmful foods for teeth
Acidic foods and drinks can cause tooth decay. Most fruits contain some level of acidity. Juicy fruits such as oranges, bananas, and apricots are more acidic than. Other examples of acidic foods and drinks include:
Peppers
Tomatoes and ketchup
Vinegar and pickles (especially apple cider vinegar)
Fruit squash
Fruit-flavored water - for example, adding a slice of lemon to your water
Flavoured teas, including berry tea, rose water and ginger and lemon
Most alcoholic beverages
Soft drinks (sugar-free soft drinks are just as harmful as sugar-sweetened drinks)
The challenge is that many of these foods and drinks are good for your overall health, and there are ways to enjoy them while protecting your teeth.
Include calcium-rich foods like cheese, yogurt or milk at the end of a meal to help neutralize the acid in your mouth.
Use sugar-free chewing gum to increase saliva production, which helps protect your teeth.
Replace fruit tea with black tea, which reduces tooth decay.
Drink water flavored with cucumber, mint or rose water instead of sour fruits.
common is tooth decay?
Dentists have warned that tooth decay has become a very common problem worldwide and is increasing rapidly.
According to a 2013 study led by Dr David Bartlett, head of prosthodontics at King’s College London Dental Institute, about 30% of adults aged 18 to 35 in Europe suffer from moderate to severe tooth decay.
In comparison, a recent study of 2,924 people of the same age in six Arab countries found even higher rates of tooth decay.
This was highest in Oman at 60.7 percent, followed by Saudi Arabia (57.1 percent), the United Arab Emirates (49.3 percent), Egypt (32.9 percent), Kuwait (31.5 percent) and Jordan (16.5 percent).
Experts say that tooth erosion continues throughout your life, but if you're not careful, factors such as diet, habits, or medical conditions (such as acid reflux) can accelerate the process.
Dentists can use a guide to estimate your loss. The results can be worrying, as there's no way to restore enamel, so it's best to be safe.
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