Apples Can Cause More Damage To Teeth Than Fizzy Drinks

Eating apples can be up to four times more damaging to teeth than carbonated drinks, reveals a new study.

Wine and lager also increase the risk of dental damage but pickled onions and grapefruit, which are consumed less frequently, do not.

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Tooth decay in toddlers, children and adults, also called dental caries, is a bacterial infection causing demineralization and destruction of the hard tissues of the teeth.

"It is not only about what we eat, but how we eat it," the Daily Mail quoted Professor David Bartlett, head of prosthodontics at King's College London Dental Institute, who led the study, as saying.

"Doctors quite rightly say that eating apples is good, but if you eat them slowly the high acidity levels can damage your teeth. The drinks most often associated with dietary erosion, particularly cola, showed no increased risk.

"The results emphasise that dietary advice should be targeted at strong acids rather than some of the commonly consumed soft drinks," he stated.

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In the new study, the researchers looked for links between teeth wear at several sites in the mouth, and diet in more than 1,000 men and women aged 18 to 30.

People who ate apples were 3.7 times more likely to have dentine damage, while carbonated drink consumers had no additional risk.

Tooth Discoloration Introduction
Tooth discoloration or staining is caused commonly due to smoking, some medicines and poor dental hygiene.

Fruit juice increased the likelihood of damage to the enamel around the top of the teeth near the gums fourfold, while lager, which is acidic, raised the chances of dentine damage threefold.

Some apples contain as much as four teaspoons of sugar, which contributes to raised acid levels in the mouth.

Loose Teeth - Causes - Symptoms - Treatment - FAQs
Looseness of teeth is caused by a disease of the periodontium and includes the tissues surrounding the teeth.

One suggestion is to eat your apple with milk or a piece of cheese as both contain calcium, which neutralises acid. Drinking water immediately after eating an apple will also help, washing away harmful effects.

Source-ANI