Can Your Dental Health Benefit from the Alkaline Diet?

Everyone knows that brushing and flossing are inevitable steps in proper oral hygiene. But there are many other factors that can also affect your dental health, and your diet is most definitely one of them.

While many people avoid candies because of their high sugar content–which plays a significant role in the creation of caries and other dental problems–few people are aware of the negative impact that sour (or acidic) foods might have on your teeth.

What Do Acidic Foods Do to Your Enamel?

Healthy saliva pH levels are usually between 6.2 and 7.4. This means, depending on the individual, that mouth pH varies in the range from slightly acidic through neutral to slightly alkaline.

However, the food and drinks that we consume can decrease or increase these levels. The acids found in the food actually cause them to drop down, meaning that your saliva becomes acidic. If they fall below 5.7, they can temporarily soften your teeth enamel.

Some foods (especially sour candies) have pH that is close to the level of battery acid. It takes your mouth at least half an hour after consuming such an acidic meal to restore its natural neutral pH, and the enamel to harden again. But if you constantly eat foods that lower your mouth pH, your teeth never get a chance to recover and permanent enamel demineralization occurs. This often leads to cavities, caries, gum recession, and tooth hypersensitivity despite regular brushing and flossing.

Actually, brushing might even aggravate the problems if you do it straight after lunch. The action of brushing is a means for mechanically removing the damaging plaque, but it can also wear away your softened enamel.

How Can You Prevent the Damage?

Because pH levels are a critical factor in the enamel erosion, the solution is to alkalize your mouth regularly and help the natural remineralization process that your teeth are constantly subjected to.

The easiest and most efficient way is to drink ionized alkaline water. Consuming alkaline foods and avoiding highly acidic foods is another way. While highly acidic foods destroy the protective outer layer of teeth, high-alkaline foods neutralize their effect in your mouth.

Even after consulting with teeth whitening specialists in Chatswood, we can be assured that: “Alkaline food can protect your teeth. The good way to go about your dental health is to lower acidic foods intake. This also reduces the necessity for teeth whitening.”

What is more, ionized alkaline water is a holistic approach to your overall well-being.

Check out this video from Chanson Water USA’s Facebook profile.

What Constitutes an Alkaline Meal?

Any food with a pH equal or higher than your mouth pH is considered alkaline. Most fruits and vegetables fall on this side of the scale, but leafy greens, roots, onions, and cruciferous vegetables are particularly alkaline. Chicken soup and salty nuts also have pH values of 8.5 and higher. You can eat soybeans and tofu freely, and spice your meals with cinnamon, or curry. In general, eating foods that stimulate your saliva glands makes your mouth water and also has an alkalizing effect.

It may come as a surprise to you, but citrus fruits are classified as alkaline as well. This has to do with the fact that the alkalizing properties of certain foods are not determined by their taste, but rather by how they are metabolized. Lemons and limes may not be alkaline in nature (they contain citric acid), but when they are broken down by our body they produce an alkaline response.

On the other side of the scale are foods that you should avoid. Definitely eliminate sugar and alcohol.

Wine, for example, has a pH of 2.2 or lower. Breads, fish and meats are all very acidic as well. And so are eggs and dairy products. Although, goat milk makes an exception, since it is slightly alkaline. Skip ordinary black and green tea, as well as coffee, and rather stick to herbal varieties, such as chamomile or mint tea.

Be the change. Take steps to ensure your well-being comes first. Alkaline ionized water and alkaline diet are an amazing way to normalize your dental health. However, like with any other diet, do your research and don’t go to extremes. Alkaline diet may be extremely difficult to follow. And that’s completely fine. In the end, you can decide what aspects of this particular diet you want to follow. Never stress about it.