Jul 19, 2009

It is known that acidic beverages like sodas and citric juices like grapefruit and orange juice can damage teeth. An expert says the only solution is to stop or at least reduce consumption of these beverages.

Mohamed A. Bassiouny, professor of restorative dentistry at Temple University and co-author of a new study on the subject, outlined three steps to rehabilitate teeth that suffer from dental erosion as a result of the excessive consumption of these products.

Bassiouny instructs those who are experiencing tooth erosion to first identify the source of erosion, possibly with the help of a dental professional.

Then, the individual should determine and understand how this source affects the teeth in order to implement measures to control and prevent further damage.

Last, the person should stop or reduce consumption of the suspected food or beverage to the absolute minimum.

He notes that information about the acid content of commonly consumed foods or beverages is usually available online or on the product's label. It is also recommended to seek professional dental advice in order to possibly restore the damaged tissues.

"Dental erosion," according to Bassiouny, "is a demineralisation process that affects hard dental tissues (such as enamel and dentin)."

This process causes tooth structure to wear away due to the effects that acid has on teeth, which eventually leads to their breakdown. It can be triggered by consumption of carbonated beverages or citric juices with a low potential of hydrogen (pH), which measures the acidity of a substance.

Excessive consumption of the acidic beverages over a prolonged period of time may pose a risk factor for dental health, said a Temple University release.