● For foods you are unfamiliar with plus tips on how to pick fresh vegetables see food subs.
Strong Tooth Enamel Prevents Cavities
Comfort drinks can promote relaxation and health. They are soothing during times of stress (can activate feel-good hormones), moodiness (may help to focus the mind), and illness (could improve circulation). That said, make sure your comfort drink has a pH between 6 and 7 or your comfort will be short-lived, meaning you can look forward to dental problems.
Contrary to popular belief, coffee is not a comfort drink because its pH level is around 4.5-5.5. The erosion of tooth enamel (demineralization) begins when the pH level in your mouth drops to approximately 5.5 or lower. Black tea has a pH of 4.9 to 5.5. Therefore, it stands to reason, it won’t be a good substitute for drinking coffee.
Most single-ingredient herbal teas are low in acidity, a pH above 6 and make good comfort drinks. Hot chocolate, made with cocoa powder that is Dutch-processed (processed with alkali), has a pH of 7. Which makes it a great substitute for herbal tea any time of the day.
IMO, keep food and drinks with a pH less than 6 away from your mouth, unless they are paired with food that has a pH above 7. A pH of 7 is the neutral point, above that is alkaline (below acidic). Now, when demineralization happens, the enamel becomes more porous than it naturally is.
Continued erosion, via acidic foods, will increase the size and number of nanotubes (tubules). The increased size of these tubules, through which sugars, acidic food, drink and even air can now pass, will expose the tooth’s inner nerve. When your nerves become irritated by any of the previously mentioned stimuli, it triggers a sensitivity response.
If the demineralization isn’t stopped, the tooth’s sensitivity will progress into a painful cavity. A full cavity is a permanent hole resulting from the destruction of the tooth’s hard enamel surface. Until that happens, you will probably remain in the early stages of tooth decay.
Meaning, it’s still possible for your body to repair its tooth’s enamel via remineralization with the help of dietary changes. If possible, make sure the pH of any food you put in your mouth is 6.5 and above. It will take time to familiarize yourself with the pH of food and drinks you’re accustomed to putting in your mouth.
Your cell phone can help with the pH levels of food you put in your mouth. Be careful how you phrase your search. Your digestive system is not vulnerable to the pH of foods like the mouth is, because it maintains a wide range of pH levels to break down food.
For that reason, there is a big difference between the pH of food in your mouth and the pH of food after it’s swallowed. So, be specific in your search, focus on the pH of food in your mouth or search results will be misleading. With detoxication and the proper attention paid to one’s diet, it may only take your body 3–4 weeks to remineralize damaged tooth enamel.
This body function is a normal repair process. While your teeth can remineralize (in 3–4 weeks) to the point where you can chew food without any pain or discomfort. Remineralization will take about another 3–4 weeks for the tooth’s enamel to get back to full strength before it’s capable of resisting further acid attacks. So, full recovery will take about 6–8 weeks.
Be patient and pH selective with the food you eat for that time period. Taking oral probiotics can help neutralize acidity in the mouth by raising your oral pH. During the 6–8 week remineralization period, add 1/8 tsp. (0.63ml) of pure calcium citrate powder to every meal you eat.
It will reduce teeth sensitivity by neutralizing acidic food. Meaning, it brings the food’s pH closer to a neutral 7. For an irritated tooth with an annoying pain, put 1/16 tsp. (pinch) of pure calcium citrate in 1/4 cup (60ml) of tepid water and rinse.