If you’ve spent any amount of time on social media, you’ve probably encountered the thousands upon thousands of wellness accounts, along with the diets they recommend. One that you might have encountered is apple cider vinegar, a drink touted to have a wide variety of health benefits.
People have claimed that drinking this can do everything from lower blood pressure to mitigate acne, while others simply like how it tastes on their salads. However, you might wonder how apple cider vinegar could affect your oral health. Here’s what you ought to know.
Reviewing the Claims
First of all, it’s worthwhile to establish what apple cider vinegar is and evaluate some of the claims people make about it. ACV is made from fermented apple juice, and while it was used for a long time as an additive to drinks and salad dressings, it’s risen to prominence in recent years as a health food. Some people even use it as “natural teeth whitening,” something that will be discussed later.
While some of the health claims related to ACV are tenuous, there is some evidence that incorporating it into your diet could mitigate the effects of diabetes or high blood pressure.
How Will Apple Cider Vinegar Affect My Oral Health?
The problem when it comes to ACV and your teeth is that it’s highly acidic, just like soda. As such, overusing it on your teeth can potentially contribute to acid erosion and tooth decay, or in more mild cases, may cause tooth sensitivity.
That being the case, it’s a good idea for the sake of your oral health that you avoid overindulging in apple cider vinegar. Moreover, it’s a terrible idea to try and use it as a whitening solution—not only will this likely be ineffective, but it’ll also cause tooth sensitivity. If you want whiter teeth, the best thing to do is to talk to a professional.
How to Be Conscientious about ACV
Of course, if you like apple cider vinegar, you don’t need to cut it from your diet completely. Just be sure to dilute it—instead of swishing it around in your mouth on its own or drinking it straight, adding it to drinks or salads are a tooth-healthier way to consume it.
About Our Practice
At Dalton Hunt Dentistry, we want our clinical practice not to feel, well, clinical. We know that your oral health matters to you, and that a beautiful smile can make a massive difference in how you feel. That’s why we devote ourselves to our work, doing everything that we can to make the services you receive from us as comfortable and effective as it can possibly be.
If you have any questions about adopting a tooth-healthy diet, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (919) 787-8243.