It’s the frequency of contact with citric acid that leads to erosion, rather than the quantity, Dr. Magnuson explains. “Quickly drinking a glass of orange juice in the morning rather than sipping it slowly at your desk in the office does less damage to your teeth,” he notes. “The citric acid breaks down the enamel but since it is also a chelating agent, once it gets down through the enamel, it can break down the actual tooth structure and soften it.” Dr. Magnuson does not recommend eliminating Vitamin C from your diet. He simply cautions his patients to be aware of how much and how often they expose their teeth to it. He suggests checking the labels on all beverages and avoiding soda pop, which often contains high amounts of citric acid and sugars that promote tooth decay.

Dr. Kevin Flood of the Dental Health and Wellness Center in Grand Rapids agrees with the need to limit the amount of soda pop we drink, particularly children and teens. “Pop has really acidic pH and I’m seeing young patients with rampant decay because they drink four or five cans per day,” he says. “They also eat too many sugary snacks or junk foods while ignoring brushing and flossing, so they are not practicing good dental or dietary habits.” Despite the fact that human beings are almost 98 percent water, Dr. Flood says his patients simply don’t drink enough H20. “Drinking water will flush out the acids in the mouth, restore the pH balance and help eliminate tooth decay,” he says. “Plus, staying hydrated helps all of our organs and body systems work more effectively.”

Saliva acts as a protective barrier for our teeth. More saliva is produced during a meal, helping to wash off the starches and sugars that cause plaque bacteria to build up inside the mouth. When you eat between meals and do not brush your teeth afterward, those bacteria and the acid they produce can stay in your mouth for twenty to forty minutes after each snack. Dr. Magnuson points to caffeine and alcohol as two dietary additives that dry up our natural saliva flow. “Asthma, exercise dehydration and certain medications can also contribute to a dry mouth, which leaves nothing to wash off the sugars or acids that erode the teeth,” he says. To help improve saliva flow, Dr. Magnuson recommends xylitol gum as a way to help clean teeth between regular dates with your toothbrush. Xylitol is reputed to be a natural sweetener found in fruits and vegetables. Some of it is extracted from birch wood and sugar cane stalks.

Early diet may influence the formation of teeth during the infant and young child stages. As we grow, foods rich in calcium and phosphate, like milk help promote strong bones and teeth. Dairy products are also able to affect the pH in our mouth and reduce tooth exposure to acid. Dr. Flood suggests more green leafy vegetables, too. “The calcium in those green vegetables is more bio- available than the calcium in dairy products and easier to assimilate into your body,” he states. As a holistic dentist, Dr. Flood also counsels his patients on the importance of complete nutrition for oral health and general wellness. “In some Eastern medical practices, they feel that the mouth mirrors the health of the body. If you have a mouth full of decaying teeth or gum disease, chances are there are other parts of your body that are also affected and not getting what they need.”

When considering nutritional guidelines to help strengthen teeth as we get older, Dr. Magnuson concurs with Dr. Flood that a well-balanced, nutritious diet is vital to overall health. “In terms of teeth, however, once we reach a certain age, there’s not a whole lot of supplements or specific diet guidelines that are absolutely necessary,” he states. “When your teeth first develop, they lay down all their basic structure. They’re not like bone, which has a certain amount of calcium that comes and goes. Once teeth are fully formed by your mid-to-late teens, basic dental hygiene and avoidance of some things in your diet will help keep them healthy.” Dr. Magnuson notes that improper diet can sometimes affect the periodontal bone that supports your teeth. “ For most of us, it’s really the daily maintenance, brushing, flossing and regular examinations that are important as an adult,” he says.