How Fruit Juices Affect the Teeth

Fruit juices are often the cornerstone of a child’s diet as many parents would like their children to receive all the benefits that the vitamins and minerals offer.   Recent studies have begun to show that there is one startling side effect from diets that are high in fruit juices, however, and that is damage to a child’s teeth.  Without the assistance of our Los Angeles dentist, children could be facing sensitive teeth and even dental caries.

The biggest offender for these fruit juices are those that are laden with artificial sweeteners as well as juices that are extremely acidic.  Many of the citrus fruit juices have a high amount of acid that will slowly eat away at the enamel of the teeth if the patient does not maintain flawless oral hygiene habits as well as a healthy and balanced diet.

In addition to the acids, many fruit juices or concentrates have additional sugar that will increase the individual’s chance of developing cavities.  When cavities remain untreated, patients could experience severe damage that may require fillings, a root canal treatment, or even dental crowns.

The first step in reducing one’s chances of developing these conditions is to stick to fruit juices that are low in artificial sugar and as neutrally acidic as possible.  Juices that are 100 percent fruit juice often have just a fraction of the cavity-causing sugars that other concentrates contain.   All patients should also schedule a biannual checkup from the time that their first tooth erupts to ensure that the teeth are growing in a healthy and balanced manner.

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