Vinegar from Apple Cider: Is it Safe to Drink this Common Home Remedy?

1.    Apple cider vinegar has been used for centuries in cooking and medicine. In recent  years, it has become a popular home remedy and is said to help with a variety of  problems.

2.   However, apple cider vinegar, like other vinegars, is acidic, and studies indicate that if it is not diluted, it may erode our bodily tissues.

3.    Therefore, if you drink apple cider vinegar on a regular basis and want to prevent tooth erosion, it is best to adhere to a few guidelines.

4.    This includes drinking the vinegar through a straw and always diluting it.

In recent years, apple cider vinegar, which has been used for centuries in cooking and medicine, has gained popularity as a home remedy. It is thought to assist with a wide range of health issues, including high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. It's also said to help with eczema and acid reflux in the stomach, but this hasn't been proven scientifically.

It is believed that apple cider vinegar is beneficial to the body as a whole due to its high content of nutrients like potassium, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin C. Most of the time, apple cider vinegar is added to sauces, salad dressings, and marinades before eating.

Apple cider vinegar diluted in either hot or cold water is also consumed by some. Gummies, powders, pills, and tablets are also available. Additionally, baths, wet wraps, and hair rinses can be made with diluted apple cider vinegar for external use. However, there are currently no official dosage recommendations because apple cider vinegar has not been the subject of research.

Apple cider vinegar's antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, including its ability to combat oral biofilm, have been demonstrated by research. A sticky layer of bacteria on the surfaces of teeth is oral biofilms, or dental plaque. This indicates that although there have been no clinical studies to verify this, it may theoretically be able to lower the levels of plaque on our teeth.

In addition to the absence of evidence, apple cider vinegar may not be the most effective method for reducing plaque: It has a lot of acid, like other kinds of vinegar, and studies show that if it isn't diluted, it could damage our bodily tissues. This includes our teeth and tooth enamel as well as the soft tissues in our mouths.

Acids and Teeth

The mineral-coated substance that covers our teeth is enamel, and it is the hardest tissue in the human body. The crown, which is the part of the tooth that is seen in the mouth, is covered in enamel. Dentin, on the other hand, is the main part of the tooth and is beneath our enamel. Dentin is another hard tissue that is similar to bone. It is directly connected to the nerves and blood vessels that are in the dental pulp, which is in the middle of our teeth.

The enamel helps keep our teeth safe from things like biting, chewing, extreme temperatures, and chemicals that could hurt them. However, some chemicals, like acids, can still cause enamel damage over time if they come into contact with our teeth for an extended period of time.

Our enamel can be softened and dissolved by acids, which may eventually cause it to become thinner. This is especially true if we brush our teeth or eat hard foods immediately following an acid attack, which can speed up the loss of enamel.

Our teeth may become more sensitive as a result of vinegar acids eroding the enamel. As a result, they are more sensitive to hot or cold foods, drinks, and sweets because the dentin layer beneath the enamel is directly connected to our teeth's nerves.

When the enamel has completely been eroded by acids in some more advanced cases, the dentin is exposed and unprotected; at this point, the teeth will erode and wear out a lot faster.

Steps To Take

By looking at the shape and color of the teeth, asking about sensitive teeth, and taking a patient's diet history to identify acids-containing foods and drinks, dentists can spot this problem.

However, due to its antifungal properties and ability to dissolve calcified plaque deposits (tartar), some dentists have actually been recommending soaking acrylic dentures in diluted vinegar when it comes to false teeth.

However, salivary proteins and slime will form a thin layer on our enamel to shield it from acids. Additionally, there are a lot of minerals in our saliva that can remineralize the outer layers of damaged enamel; however, this process takes time-usually several hours. The outer enamel layers will also be strengthened by fluorides in toothpaste and mouthwashes.

Therefore, if you drink apple cider vinegar on a regular basis and want to prevent tooth erosion, it is best to adhere to a few guidelines. To keep your teeth safe, always dilute apple cider vinegar and drink it through a straw. Additionally, consuming apple cider vinegar with your main meals helps reduce daily acid attacks.

Products containing apple cider vinegar that require a lot of chewing, such as acidic gummies, should be avoided. Additionally, you should not brush your teeth immediately prior to or after consuming apple cider vinegar.

Wait about 30 minutes instead. Be gentle and not overly abrasive when brushing, use fluoridated toothpaste, and avoid using a hard toothbrush. You can also ask your dentist about your risk of developing tooth erosion to determine whether using apple cider vinegar on your teeth is safe.