Apple a day may keep the dentist close

An apple a day might well keep the doctor away, but the dentist is another matter.

Eating apples and other acidic fruit, as well as drinking fruit juices, is roughly four times more potentially harmful to teeth than drinking pop, according to a study published by the U.K.’s Journal of Dentistry.

Surveying more than 1,000 men and women aged 18 to 30, the study found that apple eaters were 3.7 times more likely to suffer damage to their dentine (the layer of the tooth inside the enamel).

At the same time, it was shown that fruit juice was four times as damaging as pop, and lager beer three times as harmful.

The research also showed that the speed of consumption was a factor.

“Doctors quite rightly say that eating apples is good, but if you eat them slowly the high acidity levels can damage your teeth,” said study leader David Bartlett, a professor at the King’s Dental Institute. “The drinks most often associated with associated with dietary erosion, particularly cola, showed no increased risk in this study.”

“The results emphasize that dietary advice should be targeted at strong acids rather than some of the commonly consumed soft drinks.”

The researchers did not advise giving up otherwise healthful fruits and juices, but recommended making short work of their consumption.

“Snacking on acidic foods throughout the day is the most damaging, whilst eating them at meal times is much safer,” Bartlett said. “It’s not what you eat, it’s how you eat it. An apple a day is good, but taking all day to eat the apple can damage teeth.”

Dr. Harry F. Hoediono, president of the Ontario Dental Association, responded to the study by stressing the healthful benefits of apples, but advised rinsing the mouth with water after eating fruit to neutralize the acid.

“Also, don’t clean your teeth right after eating,” he said. “If you brush while the acid is still in your mouth you are removing some of your teeth’s surface. If you wait about an hour, the saliva helps remineralize the enamel and makes the enamel more resistant to acid attack.”

Source of the article- http://www.healthzone.ca/health/dietfitness/article/1067949--apple-a-day-may-keep-the-dentist-close