Research Suggests Apples More Damaging to Teeth than Fizzy Drinks
A new research study has suggested that eating an apple can be more damaging to the teeth than drinking a fizzy drink.
The study, which was carried out by researchers at King’s College London Dental Institute, found that eating apples can be up to four times more damaging than drinking a carbonated drink. Drinking wine and lager were also found to damage teeth.
Professor David Bartlett, head of prosthodontics at the institute, said that it was important to consider not only the type of foods that we eat, but also the way we eat. Eating apples slowly was found to damage the enamel surface of the teeth, as the fruit has very high acidity levels.
During the study, the research team assessed tooth wear and compared it with diet. The study involved more than 1,000 men and women aged between 18 and 30. The research team assessed wear in the enamel and dentine portions of the teeth.
According to the findings of the study, people who ate apples were 3.7 times more likely to suffer from dentine damage.
Dr Glenys Jones, a nutritionist at the Medical Research Council’s Human Nutrition Research unit, said that acidic foods can contribute to dental damage but people should not be discouraged from eating fruit or drinking fruit juice. Instead, they should drink through straws or drink milk after eating an apple to neutralise the acid. Drinking water straight after eating an apple will also help.
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