General
Apple Cider Vinegar
MYTH This claim is false
The Claim
"Apple cider vinegar has the same pH as stomach acid. And you're swishing it around your mouth."
The Truth
Enamel starts dissolving at pH 5.5.
Apple cider vinegar? pH 2.5.
A study soaked teeth in vinegar for 4 hours. Lost 20% of their minerals.
A 15-year-old girl eroded her enamel drinking one glass daily. For weight loss. Destroyed her teeth trying to lose weight.
Here’s the irony - it makes whitening WORSE. Acid opens pores in your enamel, making teeth MORE prone to staining. And it exposes the dentin underneath, which is yellow.
You’re dissolving the white layer to reveal the yellow layer.
The ADA’s position: don’t do this. Not worth it.
Drink it if you want. With a straw. Diluted. Away from your teeth.
Sources
- [1] 2014 vinegar study: 20% mineral loss
- [2] Case study: 15-year-old enamel erosion
- [3] ADA position statement