Torbram Dental weighs in on the potential oral health issues caused by acidic foods and beverages. (Source: Oral Health Foundation, June 10, 2019, https://www.dentalhealth.org/blog/what-foods-and-drinks-contain-acid-and-why-it-spells-trouble-for-our-oral-health.)
When you hear the term ‘ acid,’ the first thing that might come into your mind would be the bottles full of chemicals in your chemistry class or the ones you saw in a TV show. The fact is that certain food acids can cause indigestion and heartburn, which is known to many. However, not many people know about its role in your oral health.
Most foods and drinks that you consume every day have low acidity. However, some foods with high enough acid content cause a problem. These drinks and foods can lead to issues with your enamel and dental erosion. Explaining the effect acid has on your mouth, Torbram Dental says, “Acid weakens your teeth’s enamel, leaving them susceptible to damage. When you eat acidic foods, the enamel becomes softer for a while and loses some mineral content. Your saliva cancels this acidity out slowly and returns the mouth to its natural balance. But, if this happens frequently, your mouth won’t have the chance to recover, resulting in you losing your enamel.”
Enamel is your tooth’s coating protecting the sensitive dentine present underneath. If it is worn away, it exposes the dentine leading to sensitivity and pain, and ultimately a much-needed dental cleaning procedure. According to Torbram Dental, “The most common acids found in drinks and foods are citric acids, phosphoric acids, and carbonic acids.”
The most common sign of an acidic drink is its fizziness. This includes any type of fizzy drinks, including carbonated drinks, pops, and sodas. Even if you are drinking the ‘diet’ version, it can be harmful. Torbram Dental highlights that some alcohol can be acidic as well. Some alcoholic beverages include beer, white wine, alcopops, and prosecco; these items can be highly erosive for your teeth. The best way to avoid the damage these fizzy drinks can cause is by limiting your exposure and scheduling regular teeth cleaning.
There are certain fruits with enough citric acid to encourage dental erosion. Citrus fruits have to be the worst offenders. This includes limes, lemons, grapes, blueberries, plums, and grapefruits. Apart from these, tomatoes, oranges, peaches, and pineapples are high in acid as well. Now, you can’t remove these fruits from your diet altogether. However, Torbram Dental recommends that you consume fruits only during mealtimes. It would give your body the required amount of daily portions without putting any unnecessary strain on your teeth. They further added that you should not consume fruits in the form of juice as most packaged juices have a high sugar content, which is not suitable for your oral health.
If you have sensitive teeth, it might be a sign of dental erosion. If this happens, Torbram Dental suggests that you visit your dentist immediately to figure out the cause of this sensitivity. To avoid an emergency dentist visit in the first place, you need to prevent enamel erosion. Instead of giving up on acidic foods, what you can do is limit consumption. As per the experts at Torbram Dental, “This includes never sucking on highly acidic fruits, using a straw while drinking juices, rinsing your mouth after eating, and brushing with a fluoride toothpaste.” With these simple yet effective tricks, you will be able to protect your enamel and maintain a healthy smile.
Simrit has been working at Torbram Dental since 2001. She started her career with Assisting/Treatment co-ordinating and then moved on to becoming the Hygiene Co Ordinator in 2005. In 2012 she took on a new role as the Marketing Director. Though she loved being the Marketing Director, in 2015 she became the Office Manager of Torbram Dental. She completed her Level 1 Dental Assisting program with Career Canada in 1996 and then went on to complete her Level II Dental Assisting Diploma with Southwestern Medix in 1999. That is when she received NDAEB Certification. Simrit has been and still is an active member of the Ontario Dental Assistants Association since 2000. She enjoys hiking and traveling with her husband and two kids and loves to explore new restaurants, especially high-tea venues.
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Jessica, one of our receptionists, is one of the smiling faces you see when you arrive at the office. She graduated with honours from Medix College with a diploma as a Level 2 Dental Assistant. When she is not happily helping our patients, Jessica enjoys spending quality time with her friends and family, going to church on Sunday mornings, gardening and going on hikes.
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Naudia has been working at Torbram Dental for many years and is a valued member of our administrative team: as a dental receptionist and in our marketing team . She graduated from Everest College with honours level 1 and 2, with a diploma in Dental Assisting. Naudia is always there for our patients, making sure that they receive the care and attention they deserve. When not at the office, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking and indulging in civil court TV shows.
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Ramandeep has been a part of Torbram Dental for the past 10 years as certified dental assistant. She obtained her level 1 certification from Everest college in Brampton in 2013, and then her level 2 certification in 2014 from Medix college. Her career path through the clinic has been recognized by staff at all levels who admire her work ethic and dedication to million dollar smiles. In her spare time, Ramandeep enjoys cooking and gardening, and spending time with her husband and 2 kids.
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Sana is a valued member of our dental hygiene team. In 2008 she completed her education at George Brown in Dental Assisting and in 2016 she earned her diploma in Dental Hygiene from the Canadian Academy of Dental Health and Sciences. Sana has been working in dentistry since 2008 and enjoys taking care of our patients and helping them with their oral health. She is married and is busy with her 2 young children. In her spare time, Sana enjoys going out with the family, trying out new places to eat and is looking forward to travelling with them in the future.
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Sanaria has been working at Torbram Dental for many years as a valued member of our Dental Assisting Team. She completed her level 2 dental assisting certification and previously obtained a degree in Education and worked as a quality control officer in the pharmaceutical industry. When not at work Sanaria loves to bake and cook. She also loves story time and enjoying the outdoors with her children. She always sees the positive side of life, believes that nothing is impossible and that if you set a goal and work at it, that you will make your dreams come true.
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Carrie has been working at Torbram Dental since 2001. She graduated from George Brown College in 1998 with a Dental Assistant Diploma and continued to further her education by completing a Dental Hygiene Diploma in 2001 at Durham College. Carrie is a highly trained and experienced Registered Dental Hygienist who continues to learn and grow by updating her knowledge to provide her clients with the best Oral Health Care techniques and information. Carrie is passionate about Dentistry and is known for her gentle and compassionate manner. She feels strongly about building lasting relationships and trust with her clients to help them understand that good Oral Health leads to good Overall Health. Carrie enjoys travelling, dabbling in decorating and a good Netflix series in her time off. Carrie resides in Halton Hills with her husband and two children.
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Daniela's interest in Dentistry began in Gr.6 when she wrote a speech entitled "My Life as a Toothbrush".
A Registered Dental Hygienist with 22 years of clinical experience, Daniela still has a great passion for her career. The most rewarding aspect for her is building lasting relationships with her patients, and seeing them through to a healthier smile.
Her thorough yet gentle touch will ensure a comfortable visit every time.
Daniela is a total Foodie and loves to cook and enjoys all types of cuisines. She loves Florida, Cruises, organizing things, and most of all spending time with family and friends.
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Stephanie Enjoys getting to know all new patients at Torbram Dental and catching up with long standing Patients. Stephanie enjoys spending quality time with her family. One of her favorite things to do with her daughter is teach and play the piano. Stephanie likes going on walks with her husband and enjoys spending as much time with him as he is an Active Member of the Canadian Army. On Sundays, Stephanie enjoys going to Church and looks forward to Sunday Dinner with her entire family. Stephanie's Favorite thing to do to start her day right is head to her local Starbucks and Grab her favorite drink, an iced black tea with light lemonade on warm days and a blonde vanilla latte on those cold winter days.
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