My Salt Lake Dentist is concerned that my teeth are worn down far beyond the expected norm for a 37 year “young” woman. Being stalwart whole-foods vegetarian, I consume more grains, chewy breads, and raw vegetables than the average 37 year old’s my dentist normally sees. This made me wonder if possibly my vegetarian diet is causing my teeth to wear faster than the average American.
Scientific research on the impact of vegetarian diet correlation to dental health is nearly non existent. The studies that have been conducted establish no scientific evidence to support my theory that crunchy stiff whole foods can cause excess wear on adult teeth. (if you don’t believe me just ask the reference librarian for the American Dental Association [ADA]). Common sense, however, tells me otherwise.
Tooth wear and enamel erosion are divided into two basic types, mechanical and chemical. Mechanical erosion results from rubbing two objects against another (that is at least as hard as itself). Since I have not been chewing on concrete or steel lately, there is nothing I have been eating that could be nearly as hard as my teeth. Dr. Linda Niessen, a consumer adviser for the ADA puts it this way ” [enamel is] 90 percent rock”. Our teeth are strong.
The most common source of mechanical erosion is obviously teeth grinding. The trouble with teeth grinding is that it only happens when you are asleep so you never realize you are doing. I do hope my husband would point that out if it were happening. If you think you maybe grinding your teeth when you sleep there are things you can do:
- Practice relaxation teeth grinding is usually brought on by stress.
- Get a fitted with a mouth guard to wear while sleeping.
- Bite Check-your teeth maybe rubbing against each other while eating. A simple adjustment could eliminate the problem.
Diet-related mechanical erosion is not impossible but it is extremely rare.
On the other hand chemical erosion can actually be linked to the food you eat, however the texture/consistency of the food is not the culprit. Here is the scientific explanation, “chemical erosion occurs when a substance’s atomic or molecular structure allows it to eat away another’s”. In other words (one we can all understand) water is not nearly as hard as steel, but it can rust steel no problem. Likewise, acidic foods erode tooth enamel. There are studies linking the consumption of citrus fruit to increased enamel erosion.
The Journal of Dental Research (June 1991) indicates consuming more than two servings of citrus fruits per day increases one’s risk for chemical erosion significantly. Also guilty were soft drinks, sport drinks, and apple-cider vinegar. Frequent vomiting is also a culprit of chemical erosion,stomach acid eat away at enamel quickly.
If you are like me and love acidic foods, drink a lot of water to wash away the acid before it can do any damage. To be clear with all of this research it is apparent that vegetarians do not need take extraordinary measures to preserve their teeth. My diet is not the source of my dental plight.
Tags: dental health