Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Whistling In The Dark

Given the fact that we may soon expect to see great, black, roiling clouds of radioactive dust headed our way perhaps it's a bit foolish to worry about sour candies and/or soft drinks rotting our teeth.

Still ... it's empowering to do something for yourself (good dental care) rather than to stand around, waiting to see what God/nature hands you.

Manhattan Dental Care, under the astute leadership of Steven A. Firshein, DMD, sends out a newsletter and this issue's lead article has the cheery headline: Sour Candy and Soft Drinks Will Rot Your Teeth!

How's that for an eyeball grabber? Dr. John Ruby, University of Alabama Birmingham School of Dentistry is the source.

Essentially, 7.0 on the pH scale is neutral. Anything between 7.0 and 14.0 is alkaline. Anything lower than 7.0 is acidic. Battery acid comes in at 1.0 and we begin to lose tooth enamel with a pH of 4.0.

Sour Candies + Acid pH
Starburst and Mentos Fruit Chews - 2.4 each
Altoids Mango Sours 1.9

Sugar + Acid = Double Trouble
Red Bull 3.3
Gatorade 2.9
Pepsi 2.5
Coca Cola Classic 2.4

The good news is that water -- straight from the tap, none of this effete bottled silliness, is 7.0 which is neutral for the bad stuff.

Drink up! And if you do eat or drink any of the above, do NOT immediately brush your teeth. Instead rinse your mouth out with water or milk or eat a small piece of cheese.

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