Australian dental hygienist Tabitha Acret
If you’ve been reaching for an Acai bowl or morning lemon water because you want to start the day ‘healthy’, you might want to rethink your choices.
According to Australian dental hygienist Tabitha Acret foods and drinks with an acidic pH of less than seven have the power to erode your teeth and therefore might not be worth the nutritional benefits.
She also detailed the issues with DIY whitening kits and charcoal toothpastes, which are only growing in popularity online.
THE DON’TS
JUICE
Many parents would never think of giving their small children a can of cola but give them multiple cups of juice throughout the day.
‘Juice may seem like a healthy alternative to soft drinks. However, fruit juice often contains more sugar than a can of soft drink,’ Tabitha told FEMAIL.
‘Fruit is better served whole and give them water instead.’
Smoothie-based meals like Acai bowls should also be heeded with caution.
Smoothie-based meals like Acai bowls should also be heeded with caution
LEMON WATER
Instagram and Facebook feeds are overloaded with posts promoting the use of lemon water daily for your inner health.
What you may not know is that lemons have a very low pH and drinking lemon water daily can cause irreversible damage to your teeth.
‘In fact, lemon juice is comparable to the acidity of battery acid. The acidity strips the enamel and in turn causes your teeth to be sensitive and more susceptible to decay,’ she said.
‘Once the enamel is eroded it isn’t coming back.’
Instagram and Facebook feeds are overloaded with posts promoting the use of lemon water daily for your inner health
FLAVOURED WATERS
Flavoured waters are being advertised everywhere from the latest Insta celebrities to hip-hop artists.
However, these drinks are just a cheeky way of giving you acid and sometimes sugar when you don’t even realise it.
‘Even the sugar free flavoured waters that are supposedly “good for yo have a pH of three which is as low as soft drinks and can cause acid erosion to the teeth,’ she said.
ENERGY DRINKS
We’ve all heard the dangers that energy drinks can cause to our bodies in general.
Filled with caffeine, chemicals and a pH of 2.6-3, energy drinks when consumed regularly can cause major damage to vital tooth structures.
They’re best steered clear of during the day and particularly combined with alcohol on a night out.
SPORTS DRINKS
Promoted as the go-to drinks for after workouts, sports drinks are high in sugar and have a low pH of 2-7-3.1.
They are advertised to drink at a time when you are dehydrated or have a dry mouth from exercising but it’s the worst time to consume them.
‘After exercising your mouth doesn’t have as much saliva present that is the natural buffer to sugar and acids so the sports drink you are consuming can cause major damage to your enamel through erosion, causing decay,’ she said.
Chia seeds can help keep your teeth clean
WINE
Most wines have a pH of 2.9-3.5, meaning a swig of red or white wine can erode your enamel.
Good news is that red wine is slightly less acidic than white wine. However, before picking up that Pinot Noir, it’s important to note that red wine is more likely to stain your teeth.
‘The best way to avoid a red smile is to ensure your teeth are plaque free. Routine cleanings with your dentist/hygienist in conjunction with good at home oral care are a sure-fire ways to keep your teeth sparkling,’ she said.
‘When you know you’ll be drinking red wine, try to brush no more than an hour before as brushing too close to picking up a glass can alter the taste and no one wants that.’
Most wines have a pH of 2.9-3.5, meaning a swig of red or white wine can erode your enamel
THE DOS
According to Triple White the best foods to eat are those that are high in calcium, white or neutral in colour with some natural fibre or texture and neutral or alkaline pH.
This includes cheese, yoghurt, seeds like poppy, sesame and chia, sardines, canned salmon, beans and whey protein.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH WHITENING TREATMENTS?
Tabitha cautions those who have purchased a DIY whitening treatment because they saw influencers using them on Instagram.
‘Whitening kits purchased online don’t actually contain any peroxide which is the main product for whitening teeth,’ she said.
‘Rather they contain sodium bicarbonate which works to remove extrinsic stains only, so the kits won’t actually whiten your teeth it will just remove some stains and give you a short-term result.
This includes cheese (pictured), yoghurt, seeds like poppy, sesame and chia, sardines, canned salmon, beans and whey protein
‘Sodium Bicarbonate can be abrasive to the teeth if used too often and that fancy blue or white light is purely for gimmick purposes only.’
Instead visiting a dentist or hygienist twice a year is the key to a quality smile, and getting your whitening done by a professional.
‘Sometimes when people present to the dental surgery for whitening it’s because they have extrinsic staining from foods and drinks and whitening isn’t actually needed, a professional AIRFLOW Dental Spa clean with warm water will remove the staining, keeping your gums healthy and teeth looking brighter.
‘The AIRFLOW Dental Spa is a revolutionary, non-contact form of dental cleaning. It projects a controlled stream of air, warm water and very fine sweet powder onto the tooth and in hard-to-reach areas to dislodge and remove food particles, plaque, discolouration and stains.’
Tabitha said when we see photos of celebrities with white grins this is usually the result of veneers or crowns being inserted to cover the teeth.