NZ - Diet at the root of tooth problems - dentists

Changing diets are causing an "epidemic" of tooth enamel erosion, which is irreversible and costly to treat, an Auckland dentist says.
The most common cause of dental erosion was the consumption of acidic food and drinks, such as soft drinks, energy drinks and RTDs, Dr Andrea Shepperson said.
"I'm seeing new cases of dental erosion every day - particularly among university students and young professionals who are consuming large quantities of flavoured drinks."
The prevalence of dental erosion had dramatically increased in the past 20 years, Shepperson said. "It's an epidemic."
She has just finished a lecture series, helping dentists recognise the clinical signs and provide treatment strategies for managing erosion.
"The anecdotal feedback from my colleagues is that we are seeing dental erosion at levels we have not seen in previous decades," she said.
Food acids were just as bad for teeth as sugar.
Soft drinks and energy drinks were specially bad because they had a combination of sugar and food acids. Zero-rated drinks, promoted as "sugar-free" or "diet", were just as damaging with a potent combination of acid and caffeine.
"Caffeine strips away your mouth's natural defence against acidity - saliva. Without saliva to protect you, a dry mouth ensues and the erosion will be much worse."
The high acidity of drinks widely considered healthy - such as herbal teas, sports drinks and fruit juice - could be just as damaging.

In the past, soft drinks and fruit juices used to be an occasional treat, but now many people, especially university students and young professionals, had them every day, Shepperson said.........