Neutralise acid?

doctor evil

Hello

I'm wondering if its helpful to drink milk or eat some cheese after eating to neutralise any acid? (assuming you can't brush)

Does anything that is too much of a base damage teeth.

I brush, floss and then brush with listerine. Is the final part good to do.

Thanks

PS sorry for all the questions!

Encorus

Frankly, I would advise using interdental brushes; they clean much better than dental floss. Nothing wrong with brushing with a mouth wash. My periodontist actually advised me to brush my teeth with a mouth wash rather than to gurgle it, as gurgling affects the entire mouth, and some mouth washes can have adverse effect on some parts of the mouth (e.g. tongue) if used for too long.

Regarding the cheese - why not just chew a sugar-free gum instead?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

There are two kinds of acids in your mouth. Extrinsic acids from your food and acid produced by the bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria make acid from carbohydrates. They will happily make acid from lactose in cheese.

Wheather there is other health benefits from cheese is one thing, but certainly it is not protective to your teeth, its not damaging either.

Your saliva is enough to buffer the acids in your mouth assuming you dont have acid coming from your stomach on a regular basis. The key is to give it time to work. This means the frequency of intake of fermentable carbohydrates is more important than the foods themselves. Snacking between meals is the killer or sipping acidic or sugary foods all the time.

Chewing gum works by stimulating saliva after meals to do its natural work.

Jo King

I read an article many years ago which commented on a recommendation to eat cheese to clean teeth after meals but then said that it would be necessary to eat peanuts to clear the acids created by the cheese.

Oral Surgeon

Jo King wrote: »

I read an article many years ago which commented on a recommendation to eat cheese to clean teeth after meals but then said that it would be necessary to eat peanuts to clear the acids created by the cheese.

But then how do you clear the peanuts????

Encorus

Also, if you eat cheese after healthy meal, you might end up with healthy teeth but dead from a heart attack. Really, fat cheese is one of the worst foods one can eat.