Are my teeth under ACID ATTACK????

Find out with this simple egg-speriment...

The best way to see how the acid made by the bacteria in your mouth affects your teeth is to do an experiment. Make sure you have your parent’s permission first, though.

For this experiment we will use an egg to represent tooth enamel because it is made of minerals and provides an important outer protection for the inside of the egg just like enamel protects the inside of a tooth. We will use vinegar because it is very similar to the acid produced by the bacteria in your mouth.

Step 1
Wash and dry an egg and gently place it in a glass measuring cup full of vinegar. Rest a spoon on top of the egg to keep it submerged and cover with plastic wrap.

Step 2
Place measuring cup in a safe place for 7-12 hours.

Step 3
Very carefully drain the vinegar off the egg. The egg will be very fragile. The acid will have demineralised (dissolved the minerals) in the shell and made it very soft. This is what happens to your teeth when they are under ACID ATTACK. You can see how fragile your teeth can become.

How can I prevent acid attack?

The best way to prevent acid attack on your teeth is to make healthy food choices and avoid sticky, sugary snacks that will feed the bacteria in your mouth. When the bacteria feeds on the sugars, it produces waste that is acidic. Acid causes tooth decay (cavities) and gum disease (gingivitis). If you do have sugary, sweet foods and drinks, follow with brushing and flossing. If you are not at home, rinse with plenty of water or chew on sugar free gum. This will increase your saliva and it will help wash away the acid that forms. Your dental hygienist will have good ideas for healthy snacks and beverages and can show you how to brush and floss properly.

Will toothpaste containing fluoride help my tooth enamel?

You can expand on this experiment by submerging only half of an egg for 4 or 5 days in a small container of fluoridated toothpaste. Then wash the toothpaste off, dry the egg and then submerge it in the vinegar as above for 7-12 hours. Just by handling the egg carefully and with a gentle tapping on the shell, it will be obvious which half of the egg was protected by the fluoride in the toothpaste.

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