One of the most commonly used organs in the body is teeth next to heart, yet dental issues are not given due care and importance. Urbanization and economic development has resulted in more refined diet with increased access to readymade drinks. Dietary habits, readily available fruit juices/drinks , soft and sweet foods are the principal reason for deterioration of Dental health. A well known and established fact being association of tooth rotting/decay with sticky diet/sweet the liquid diet/adjunct commonly consumed in the form of soft/hard beverages, fruit juices, fizzy drinks and the most unknown fact RO water (pH 5-7, slightly acidic). All these drinks being acidic in nature cause the dissolution of calcium/mineral content this is referred as dental erosion.
The soft drinks are known to cause damage to the teeth because of two properties – first, the low pH can cause erosion on the enamel/tooth surfaces and secondly the fermentable carbohydrate in drinks is metabolized by plaque micro-organisms to generate organic acids in the dental plaque and saliva, resulting in demineralization and leading to dental caries. Packaged fruit juices are sweeter having higher sugar content to enhance their taste and carbonated beverages have higher acidic content which causes demineralization of enamel tooth surface.
Deciduous teeth are smaller, with thinner enamel than permanent teeth. Hence, erosive processes progress rapidly, leading to advanced lesions after shorter exposures to acids, as compared to permanent teeth. More than 42% of the total fruit juice consumers are the children and hence, they have a significantly higher prevalence of tooth erosion.
Ideally children should not include any fruit juices or other sweet drinks to have a healthy diet. Intake of sweet drinks reduces the quality of your child’s diet, has links to weight gain and poor oral health, and also exposes them to the ‘habit’ of drinking sweet drinks.
Fruit and vegetable juices contain sugars that are found naturally in fresh fruits and vegetables, but become very concentrated when made into juice. ideally, children do not need any fruit or vegetable juice to have a balanced diet. Encouraging children to eat the whole fruit or vegetable, and drink plain tap water or milk rather than juice is the best way to establish good eating habits early.
Nutrient Boost- On the flip side “Juices are an easy way to have a quick vitamin and nutrient boost since they are readily available in liquid form.” “However, they should be used as a supplement and not as a substitute for a balanced diet.”
Fresh fruit and vegetables are best because they
· Supply fiber to their diet and help prevent constipation
· Help with skills such as chewing
· Teach about different textures, colors and tastes
· Provide a convenient, healthy and nourishing option for snacks
· Establish healthier eating and drinking habits.
Some of the problems with sweet drinks
· Excess weight gain
· Tooth erosion and decay
· Reduced appetite
· Picky eating
· Change in bowel habits.
Here are the 13 most acidic fruits and their pH value as observed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
· Lemon Juice (2.00 – 2.60)
· Limes (2.00 - 2.80)
· Cranberry Juice (2.30 – 2.52)
· Blue Plums (2.80 – 3.40)
· Grapes (2.90 – 3.82)
· Pomegranates (2.93 – 3.20)
· Grapefruits (3.00 – 3.75)
· Blueberries (3.12 – 3.33)
· Pineapples (3.20 – 4.00)
· Apples (3.33 – 4.00)
· Peaches (3.30 – 4.05)
· Mangos (3.40 – 4.80)
· Oranges (3.69 – 4.34)
Basic tips to avoid tooth erosion
Drink the acidic beverage at once, instead of sipping it all day
Use a straw to avoid the teeth from being immersed in liquid
Substitute acidic beverages with water
Rinse mouth with water after drinking acidic beverage instead of brushing. The bristles of the toothbrush may damage the enamel
