A great question was asked the other day by one of our
Facebook friends—How acidic is milk or coffee? Often we think about the acidity
of sodas or sports drinks, as depicted in the visual we created to explain why
acid matters. Tooth enamel starts to break down at pH 5.5, and the root surface
of teeth start to break down at pH 6.5. Most sodas, juices, and sports drinks
range from pH 2.4 to 4.0. So how about other drinks that often make their way
into our daily routine?
We did a little research—coffee on average is reported
around pH 5 while milk is far more neutral ranging between pH 6 and pH 7.
Another beverage to keep in mind is wine, which averages between pH 3 and pH 4.
Food also ranges from acidic to more alkaline (basic). For example, lemons are
very acid at pH 2 while egg whites are considered basic at pH 8.
Obviously, we aren’t advocating giving up fruit, coffee, and
wine forever, but rather suggest that these beverages are treated as treats.
Sipping on acidic beverages all day, as opposed to water, perpetuates the cycle
of decay. To learn more about this process and how acid impacts your oral
health please visit the Wisconsin Dental Association website. They have put
together a number of excellent resources including videos that help explain
this process.
Thanks for your question! Keep them coming!
