How Fad Diets May Ruin Your Teeth

Diet and exercise to get in shape and reach a healthy weight are great ways to improve your health. But some people, frustrated with slow weight loss or in a hurry to lose weight for a special occasion, turn to fad diets. Unfortunately, these “fast fix” solutions can cause serious oral health problems. If you are tempted to try fad diets, keep in mind that many of them could permanently damage your teeth. 

Juice Cleanses 

A Juice Cleanse or Juice Detox seems like a great short-term way to lose weight, but juices are high in sugar (sucrose or fructose) and low in protein, fiber, and calcium. The long-term effects on your teeth could outweigh the short-term results of the fad diet. Your teeth do not get some of the vital nutrients they need to stay strong, and the high sugar-acid content can quickly erode tooth enamel. This promotes bacteria that eat away at your teeth, leading to cavities. Long-term juice cleanses even lead to collagen loss, contributing to loose teeth with possible periodontal disease. 

Hot Lemon Water or Apple Cider Vinegar 

Recent “influencers” have praised the benefits of drinking a cup of hot lemon water or 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar each morning to detoxify and jump-start weight loss. They claim that lemon water resets your metabolism, flushes out toxins, and suppresses your appetite.  

The problem? Nutritionists say these claims aren’t valid, and the highly acidic lemon juice and vinegar bathe your teeth daily in citric acid. The acid erodes the enamel and eventually exposes the dentin, the dull, gray/yellow layer of the tooth beneath the enamel. If you do try this diet, be sure to rinse your mouth thoroughly after drinking the concoction. Don’t brush your teeth immediately, as that will scrub the acid into the teeth. Wait a few hours before brushing. 

The daily acid attack on the teeth will lead to enamel loss and eventually permanent sensitivity. You will want to think twice before drinking lemon water or apple cider vinegar daily without immediately rinsing your mouth out with water. 

Paleo and Ancestral Diet 

The paleo diet, based on eating only meats, fruits, and vegetables, has become quite popular. Some aspects of the diet are considered healthy, including eliminating processed sugars and starches, which are bad for your teeth. However, on the paleo diet, you also do not consume any vitamin D or dairy products at all, so you lack calcium, which is crucial to strong teeth. Vitamin D helps keep our bones and teeth charged with calcium ions ensuring a strong foundation. Too much of a good thing, including fresh fruits, can also be damaging. Some fruits are high in natural sugars (fructose) that quickly convert to acids and cause cavities. 

Grazing or Frequent Mini-Meals 

Grazing, the habit of eating multiple small meals or snacks throughout the day, has become more prevalent in recent years. This fad diet is very effective for some people trying to lose weight but may pose a threat to your teeth. Individuals who eat six to eight times a day instead of three meals a day tend to eat healthier throughout those meals. They consume less fat and focus more on fruits and vegetables. When they eat carbs, they are generally healthier ones.  

However, your teeth are more vulnerable to damage for an hour after eating, so if you eat several times a day, you increase the time your teeth are susceptible to cavities. The frequency of these exposures to your teeth can add up over time. Since most people can’t brush after six or seven meals a day, food debris and plaque build up, creating a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. 

If you need to lose weight, it’s best to talk to your doctor about a slow but steady approach that is healthy for your body and your teeth. A steady approach will make you more likely to keep the weight off without potentially damaging your health and smile.