Tooth erosion as a result of strong acid

Acid intake is another key component of diet which largely affects oral health. Dietary acids differ from bacterial acids in that dietary acids are usually much more stronger acids with comparably low pH. Common food source containing acid with low pH includes coca cola and some fruit juices such as orange and pineapple. Another possible source of strong acid is food regurgitation from stomach, commonly found in people with gastrointestinal reflux problem. Having high acid levels in the mouth can cause tooth erosion where the tooth structure is dissolved from the outer surface. It is a much quicker process compared to dental decay because strong acids only need a short time period of tooth contact to cause dissolution of tooth whereas bacterial acids need a much longer time frame of tooth contact. Loss of tooth enamel can leave underlying dentine exposed, leading to sensitive teeth.

To be continued in Pt 3.