Apple cider vinegar, made from fermenting apple cider, is a commonly used dietary supplement with some reported health benefits. Many people consume the vinegar in either liquid or solid concentrated supplements to address a number of health issues. Many of the cider's health benefits remain unconfirmed in clinical studies, and consuming the vinegar might have an adverse effect on your teeth.
Components
One of the main compounds found in apple cider vinegar is acetic acid, the same acid found in white vinegar. Some forms of apple cider vinegar can contain very high levels of acetic acid, sufficient to burn or irritate your throat and mouth. The vinegar also contains minerals, including potassium, copper and iron. A number of the chemicals and nutrients in apple cider vinegar can affect your overall health, not just your teeth.
Tooth Decay
Apple cider vinegar might hurt your teeth by promoting tooth decay. Your mineralized tooth tissue contains hydroxyapatite, a slightly alkaline mineral complex. Exposure to acids, such as the acid in apple cider vinegar, can react with and begin to dissolve the hydroxyapatite that makes up your teeth, softening the hard enamel layer that protects teeth. Repeated exposure to acids like apple cider vinegar can begin to break down your tooth tissue, increasing your risk of developing dental caries or cavities. Diluting the apple cider vinegar in water for consumption and rinsing your mouth after consuming the vinegar, might help minimise its effect on your teeth.
Effect on Oral Bacteria
Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial activity reputed to decrease the activity of oral bacteria, although this claim is not yet supported by scientific research. A study published in "Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Patholology, Oral Radiolology, and Endodontics" in 2011 claimed that apple cider vinegar could temporarily decrease the activity of one species of oral bacteria following a root canal treatment, but actually increased the number of bacteria within root canal patients' mouths after treatment. While the long-term effects of apple cider vinegar on oral bacteria are not yet known, it might not help control the long-term activity and numbers of oral bacteria associated with disease.
Theoretical Benefit
Apple cider vinegar can theoretically benefit your teeth due to its nutrient content. Your teeth rely on adequate calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, and deficiencies in these minerals can harm your mineralized tooth tissue. Apple cider vinegar contains calcium, so the increase in calcium intake as a result of apple cider vinegar consumption might benefit your tooth tissue, as well as your bones. However, as of August 2011, no clinical studies have linked apple cider vinegar to an increase in tooth mineral density.
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