Little Teeth and Acid Erosion

Fruit juice and carbonated drinks (even diet ones) are often acidic. And if your children drink a lot of them, the acid can lead to erosion of the enamel in their teeth.

Erosion is different from tooth decay because rather than being focused at a specific point, acid erosion attacks the whole surface of the tooth at once and makes the entire protective surface thinner. This can make the teeth sensitive, and can also make them more vulnerable to decay. But there are some simple ways it can be avoided:

• Always dilute fruit juice with water - 1 part juice to 10 parts water.
• Restrict soda and fruit juices to mealtimes. Between meals, give milk or water.
• Encourage children to use a straw directed to the back of the mouth if you give them soda or fruit juice, as this will mean the acid will have less contact with the teeth.
• Don't let your children swish drinks around in their mouths.
• Don't let them brush their teeth immediately after they've had an acidic drink.
• After they've brushed their teeth at night, make sure they only have water to drink. Immediately after brushing, teeth are even more vulnerable to wear.