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In a great article by Colgate – Being Aware Of Fruits and How They Affect Your Teeth is very important.  Most people love eating fruits: They’re sweet, juicy and the high vitamin C content – in fruits like oranges, strawberries and grapefruits – make them particularly good choices for both your dental health and overall health. Some fruits, however, have high acid contents and can also be damaging to the enamel of your teeth. But you can still reap the health benefits of acidic fruits if you know which fruits pose the greatest risk and how to keep your teeth safe while eating them.

which fruits are the most acidic?

The acid content of a food is measured according to its pH value. Foods with a pH above 7 are considered alkaline, per the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), whereas those that are below 7 are acidic. And the lower the pH, the higher the level of acidity. Here are the 13 most acidic fruits and their pH value as observed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

  1. Lemon Juice (2.00 – 2.60)
  2. Limes (2.00 – 2.80)
  3. Cranberry Juice (2.30 – 2.52)
  4. Blue Plums (2.80 – 3.40)
  5. Grapes (2.90 – 3.82)
  6. Pomegranates (2.93 – 3.20)
  7. Grapefruits (3.00 – 3.75)
  8. Blueberries (3.12 – 3.33)
  9. Pineapples (3.20 – 4.00)
  10. Apples (3.33 – 4.00)
  11. Peaches (3.30 – 4.05)
  12. Mangos (3.40 – 4.80)
  13. Oranges (3.69 – 4.34)

The good news? You don’t always have to eat these high-acidic fruits to get the vitamin C your body needs. Cantaloupe, for example, is one of the best natural sources of vitamin C, and with a pH (6.13 – 6.58) it’s much less acidic than many other fruits with similar vitamin content. Honeydew melons, watermelon and bananas are also good choices for this reason. Just be aware that fruits in the form of juices, wine, jams and jellies – or when canned or frozen – are still acidic in nature.

What Is Dental Erosion?

As hard as tooth enamel is, the high acid content in many fruits and fruit juices can cause it to weaken and demineralize over time. These softened areas of enamel may then become discolored, sensitive to extreme temperatures or even sweet foods, and eventually decay and need special types of repair. The calcium in saliva can help strengthen enamel, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), but when the environment in your mouth is too acidic, remineralization will not occur.

Preventing Enamel Erosion

You don’t have to give up fruit in order to prevent erosion. Here are a simple few tips to keep your teeth healthy while maintaining your vitamin C requirement:

  • Never suck on lemons, limes or any highly acidic fruit. Putting these fruits against your teeth for any period of time is a sure way to soften the enamel on your teeth.
  • Use a straw when drinking fruit juices. This keeps it from coming in direct contact with your teeth.
  • Rinse with water after eating fruit to dilute the acids in your mouth, and wait at least 30 minutesbefore brushing to give your enamel time to resettle.

Read more in this great article by Colgate : https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/nutrition-and-oral-health/acidic-fruits-and-teeth-effects-0216

 

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