Submitted by Pediatric Smiles of Bloomington
Most people know that sugar is bad for your teeth. Sugar promotes tooth decay that can lead to cavities, but sugar isn’t the only bad guy. Consuming acid-rich foods and drinks — even if they don’t contain any sugar — can eat away at the hard enamel that protects the teeth, thus paving the way for bacteria to invade and cause decay. Children and teens are especially susceptible to this process because their enamel is not fully formed, so it is more easily dissolved by acids.
We know to avoid candy and sugary drinks. But, the beverage industry is quite skilled at duping consumers into thinking that healthy sounding drinks like Gatorade, Crystal Light, Propel, Vitamin Water, etc. are healthy options. While these drinks may or may not contain sugar, they are all very acidic. This acidity contributes to the erosion of the tooth enamel. Once tooth enamel is lost, it doesn’t grow back! Unfortunately, adults and children alike are guzzling these drinks in increasing quantities, unaware of the damaging effects.
The acidity of substances is measured using the pH scale. Generally speaking, foods and drinks with a pH below 5.5 are considered acidic, and consuming them will contribute to destroying tooth enamel. Plain water has a neutral pH of 7.0 and saliva normally has a pH of around 6.5, which is a healthy pH level for the teeth. Let’s look at the pH levels of some common drinks.
Sports drinks — pH of 2.95. While it is important to stay hydrated during exercise, sports drinks like Gatorade and PowerAde contain a lot of sugar as well. These drinks were developed to replace electrolytes lost during very strenuous physical activity, like running a marathon. They are not necessary for ordinary sports activity, certainly not for young children after a Saturday morning soccer game!
Fruit juice — pH of 3.2. Fruit juices really aren’t all that healthy. It’s much better to just eat the whole fruit. Lemon juice has a pH of 2.0. So, just think what an ice-cold glass of lemonade, made of sugar and lemon juice, is doing to your teeth!
Carbonated drinks — pH less than 3.0. The bubbly fizz is from carbon dioxide, which turns into carbonic acid. So, while La Croix sparkling water is better than sugared soda, it is very acidic.
Fruit flavored drinks — pH less than 3.0. Capri Sun, SoBe, Hi-C, Kool-Aid, etc. are not only acidic, they usually contain artificial colors and flavors. Citric acid is often added to these drinks to improve their flavor.
Flavored water — pH less than 3.5. Propel, SoBe Life Water, Dasani Strawberry, Vitamin Water, etc. all have low pH levels.
Since we all consume acidic foods and drinks, it is logical to wonder why everyone’s teeth aren’t completely rotten! There are different factors involved in this acidic eroding process. First of all, the minerals in saliva, such as calcium and phosphate, act as a buffer, regulating the pH when acidic drinks are ingested. Fluoride, from toothpaste and water, also helps the enamel recover from “acid attacks.” As long as the pH levels don’t dip low too often or stay low for a prolonged period of time, the teeth are able to recover.
It would be unrealistic to expect our children to never have that glass of Kool-Aid at a birthday party, or the bottle of Gatorade after a baseball game, or orange juice at Sunday brunch. As with most things, moderation is the key. The following tips can help minimize the risk to your child’s teeth.
- Drink mostly plain water! From the tap is better than bottled. If your child only drinks bottled water, check with your dentist to see if a fluoride supplement is recommended.
- Do not brush immediately after consuming something acidic as this is when teeth are most vulnerable. Rinse with plain water, or wait an hour before brushing.
- When drinking something that isn’t water, drink it with meals or all at once instead of sipping on it throughout the day.
- Drink non-water beverages through a straw. This helps keep the acid and sugar away from the teeth.
- Brush and floss twice a day and see your dentist twice a year so any problems can be caught in the early stages when they are easier to remedy.
Pediatric Smiles of Bloomington is a specialized dental office for children 0 to 18 and special needs patients. They are located at 1112 Trinity Ln. in Bloomington and may be reached at 309-663-7339. Ask about their “No-Cavity Club” and the rewards kids may earn.