How does frequent consumption of highly acidic kaffir lime juice cause dental erosion?
Answer
Acids dissolve the mineral structure of the teeth directly.
Dental erosion caused by kaffir lime juice is a direct chemical process, fundamentally different from the bacterial process that causes cavities. When the juice, due to its low pH, comes into frequent and undiluted contact with teeth, the acids actively dissolve the hard mineral structure that constitutes the tooth enamel. This chemical dissolution weakens the enamel over time, potentially leading to increased tooth sensitivity as the underlying dentin becomes exposed, and can cause discoloration or changes in the teeth's appearance. The key mechanism is the direct chemical assault from the low pH environment created by the citric acid.
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