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Most people know they need to brush their teeth regularly and frequently floss to help avoid problems like tooth decay. Not so many are aware of how their dietary choices can make a real difference to dental health, and it isn’t just sugary foods that are a problem. Eating and drinking too many acidic foods and drinks can significantly damage tooth enamel, causing enamel erosion which in turn can lead to cavities. Acidic foods and drinks have a pH below seven and include citrus fruits, vinegary dressings, fizzy drinks, energy drinks, and tomatoes.

What Happens When You Have Anything Acidic?

When you eat anything acidic, the acids attack tooth enamel, removing essential minerals, including calcium and phosphorus, during a process called demineralisation. This leaves your tooth enamel softer than before and more vulnerable to damage. Your mouth remains more acidic for at least half an hour after you finish eating before pH levels begin to normalise. 

At this point, some of the minerals removed remain in your saliva and are redeposited back into your tooth enamel, helping to re-harden it during a process called remineralisation. However, repeated exposure to these acids eventually erodes your tooth enamel, breaking it down so cavities can start to form. Another side-effect of eating too many acidic foods is tooth staining. When your tooth enamel is softer, it is more vulnerable to becoming stained and discoloured, especially if you eat highly coloured foods like berries.

How to Protect Your Teeth against Acid Erosion

It might not be possible to cut out acidic foods altogether or even desirable, but you can take steps to limit the time your teeth are exposed to these acids. When you have something acidic, include it as part of a main meal. At this point, your mouth will already be more acidic, and you will also be producing more saliva. Saliva is a protective fluid that helps wash away excess food particles and restore a more neutral pH more quickly. 

Try to avoid having acidic foods as snacks because this increases the time your teeth are exposed to acids. After you have something very acidic, rinse your mouth with water. Another tip is to finish your meal with cheese or milk. Both contain calcium and phosphorus, which will help to re-harden your tooth enamel and neutralise harmful acids. 

Finally, resist the temptation to brush your teeth immediately after having anything very acidic. This is because your tooth enamel is softer, so if you brush your teeth, it is more easily damaged and worn away. Waiting at least half an hour gives it time to re-harden, at which point it is safe to brush your teeth. When you do brush your teeth, use a soft-bristled toothbrush that will not damage your tooth enamel and good quality fluoride toothpaste. After brushing, spit but don’t rinse, so a thin layer of fluoride remains, coating your teeth and offering just a bit more protection against tooth decay. 

If you are concerned about acid erosion, please talk to us during your next checkup. We can check your teeth for signs of this problem and offer more personalised advice.

Women are affected by hormonal changes throughout life. Hormonal changes occur during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. Hormone levels are also affected by birth control pills, injections and IUDs that release certain hormones to prevent pregnancy. Hormonal fluctuation is inevitable and can affect mood, weight, sex drive and overall health. However, it can also increase the risk of developing oral health problems. 

How Do Hormones Affect Oral Health?

Changing hormonal levels, particularly oestrogen and progesterone, can affect gum health and occur during puberty, menstruation and pregnancy. The increase in these hormones increases the blood flow to the gums. As a result, the gums become more sensitive to the toxins produced by bacteria found in dental plaque. The increased sensitivity causes the gums to become red, swollen and more tender, so they are more at risk of bleeding when you brush and floss. The problem can be particularly noticeable during pregnancy.

Pregnancy and Oral Health

During pregnancy, the increased sensitivity of gums can lead to a condition called pregnancy gingivitis. The problem can be worsened if a woman has gum disease before becoming pregnant. While pregnancy gingivitis should clear up once the baby is born, it needs careful monitoring. This is essential to prevent gingivitis from worsening or causing permanent damage to the gums and oral health.

Menopause and Oral Health

When women go through menopause, hormonal levels decline. This can cause a condition called xerostomia or dry mouth, where insufficient saliva is produced to keep the mouth clean, fresh, moist and comfortable. A lack of saliva can increase the risk of dental problems, including tooth decay and gum disease. At the same time, women going through menopause can experience a reduction in bone density which may impact their jawbone and overall dental health.

How Dentists Can Help

We provide tailored dental care for everyone visiting our dental practice regardless of age and which is carefully adjusted over time and can accommodate changes in hormonal levels. It is just one reason why we always ask if there have been any changes to your oral or general health and recommend regular checkups and hygiene appointments.

If you are pregnant, we strongly suggest seeing our dentist as soon as possible. Ideally, we would like to conduct a prepregnancy checkup, but we realise this isn’t always feasible. During pregnancy, we like to monitor your oral health carefully, looking for changes like pregnancy gingivitis that may require additional treatment. For example, we might suggest you see our hygienist more frequently than normal, perhaps every three or four months rather than every six months. This is because getting rid of plaque and tartar buildup helps control the number of bacteria producing the toxins that can inflame and infect gums. It is a simple way to help you maintain good dental health during pregnancy.

It is a similar situation for older women going through menopause who are finding it is affecting their oral health. More frequent checkups and hygiene appointments can help control problems like xerostomia, reducing the impact on dental health.

With the right dental care combined with good oral hygiene and a healthy lifestyle, we can help you maintain strong teeth and gums throughout life.

Severe gum disease is a condition that is also called periodontal disease or periodontitis. It is, unfortunately, extremely common, affecting around one in ten of the world’s population. Periodontal disease is often called a silent disease, as the early symptoms are very easy to miss or ignore. Consequently, when it is finally diagnosed, the condition might be chronic, meaning it cannot be completely cured but only controlled by ongoing dental care. 

Periodontal disease can result in tooth loss, as it destroys the tissues supporting teeth, including gum tissue, the jawbone and ligaments that hold teeth in their sockets. However, the potential impact on overall health can be equally, if not more serious. This is because gum disease is an inflammatory condition. Over the past few years, a significant number of clinical studies have revealed a strong link between periodontal disease and other serious health problems like heart disease, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory illnesses and diabetes and mental health problems. People with a gum disease history are more at risk of developing health problems. Those who already have existing health problems could see them worsen. 

A large study conducted in the UK discovered that people with gum disease at the beginning of the study were more likely to go on and develop health problems over a three-year period than those with healthy gums. The study discovered that people with gum disease at the beginning were at 37% increased risk of developing mental health issues, had an 18% increase in developing cardiovascular problems, and had a 33% increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease. Existing gum problems also increased the risk of developing type II diabetes by 26%.

These statistics are extremely concerning, especially as gum disease is a preventable condition, which is why we strongly recommend patients visit us regularly for checkups and hygiene appointments. 

The Importance of Preventive Dentistry

We know that if patients receive the right preventive dental care and are educated in proper oral hygiene techniques, they can most likely maintain healthy, strong gums. Regular checkups allow us to detect the earliest signs of gum disease, at a stage when we can often reverse the disease completely simply by cleaning your teeth professionally.

How We Can Help You Maintain Good Gum Health

Usually, most people need to see us every six months, and we recommend booking a hygiene appointment at the same time. During these checkups, we carefully assess your gum health, taking detailed notes to compare with your previous appointment. We also ask you about your medical health in case any changes could impact your dental health and require us to adjust your preventative dental care plan.

If we notice your gums are looking a bit red, tender or swollen or that they bleed slightly when gently probed, a thorough dental cleaning will get rid of the bacteria causing the infection and inflammation combined with improved oral care at home.

Have you noticed your gums have started to bleed when you brush or floss? Please make an appointment to come and see us, as you could have early signs of gum disease. Getting treatment now will help protect your teeth, gums and general health.