Ph is a measure of acidity – the lower the ph the more acid something is. Low ph in the mouth is a bad thing for teeth since teeth are formed of a crystalline hardened chalk-like material called enamel on their outside. A ph value lower than about 5.0 is sufficient to cause some softening and dissolution of tooth enamel. Our natural saliva bathes our teeth and helps to neutralise acid in the mouth but is not capable of preventing enamel damage if the teeth are continually swamped with acid drinks such as fruit juices.

Many people do not realise just how acidic fruit juices are. Orange juice has a ph of about 2.9, and apple juice 3.0, values that are lower than many colas and sodas which are commonly recognised as hazardous to teeth. Because fruit juices are accepted as healthy drinks they are consumed in large quantities by children, given to them by their mothers who do not know of the risk to their teeth. A baby’s teeth will usually start to come through at about 6 months and if they are immediately bathed in a frequently quite acidic environment they are likely to suffer damage. Fruit juices also contain considerable amounts of sugars such as fructose, glucose and sucrose, and these are readily converted into acid by normal bacteria present in the mouth.

It is essential that parents appreciate the risk to children’s teeth from fruit juices, and that they attempt to limit exposure, not only cutting down on the quantity of drinks allowed, but by diluting the drinks as much as possible. The enamel of children’s teeth is softer than that of adults and only hardens gradually over time.

Advice is to offer infants juice in a cup as soon as they are able to cope with this, rather than in a bottle or cup with a lid that they can suck from. The total quantity of juice should be less than 12 fluid ounces per day and should be diluted by a factor of three if still acceptable at this concentration. Infants should not be put to bed with a bottle of juice or allowed to suck on one for extended periods of time.

The effects of acid erosion can be seen in adults also, although perhaps less dramatically. The consumption of orange, apple or grapefruit daily over an extended period of time leads to gradual loss of enamel over the surface of teeth. If the enamel gets very thin it can lead to sensitivity of teeth, and even in extreme cases cause portions of teeth to break off under the stress of biting.

An important point is to avoid brushing your teeth immediately after having an acidic drink of any kind or consuming fruit, since the surface enamel will be slightly softened by the acid and will then be susceptible to being removed by the physical abrasion of the toothbrush.

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