Apple Cider Vinegar: Uses, Health Benefits and FAQ

My husband and I have been using apple cider vinegar for a long time and we swear by it. My husband has been on every thing for his acid reflux problem and nothing works but this vinegar.

Re: Dr. Yong's tooth enamel comment. Well intentioned, but almost certainly wrong. For one thing most of us have been eating salad dressings with vinegars for years. Also, certain natural health people have taken it for decades without losing enamel. Sugar, as honey or whatever, mixed with the ACV, may be the culprit. Also excessive brushing, according to many naturally oriented physicians (William Campbell Douglas, M.D.)

I've read that eating a little bit of cheese afterwards will lower the acid level in your mouth. A high acid level is good for the ph balance of the body but not so good for your teeth.

I just want to let you know that I agree with the dentist. I started drinking vinegar water 3 years ago all day long like you, and my teeth start going bad, since then I drink a glass in the morning as tea and then brush my teeth no more problems with my teeth.

I took acv for years and experienced problems with my dental erosion. Also, other problems possibly relating to amalgam fillings. Stopped acv and now ok. I would encourage anyone considering acv to dilute and then follow w/ sodium bicarb.

Let me add to Dr. Yong's comments regarding tooth enamel (and point out why William Campbell Douglas was misinformed). Acid damages tooth enamel. Pathogenic bacteria in the mouth produce acid as a byproduct when they consume sugar. So when you drink ACV, you expose your teeth to acid. When you eat products with high sugar content, the bacteria produce acid. Neither of these situations is necessarily deleterious to the tooth enamel if the exposure to the acid is over a short period of time. Saliva is able to cleanse the mouth, and the pH returns to normal. However, if you sip the ACV over a long period of time during the day, the pH of the mouth is unable to recover, and as a result of constant prolonged exposure, dental decay results.

The same amount of ACV ingested over a period of a few minutes will typically cause no problems. Yes, we eat/drink acidic/sugary foods all the time (as the MD mentioned) but these are the things that cause decay especially if sipped or ingested in large quantities over long periods of time. Try to consume your ACV 3 times per day within a period of 5-10 minutes.

Apple Cider Vinegar: I have been taking it for years. I read about it long ago and have been taking two tblsp every day along with other things... fish oil etc I love the taste and don't mix it. I'm 68 and have all my teeth so I don't think that's a problem.

Ingesting ACV has long been used for medical treatment and is sometimes very effective.. HOWEVER, one should also take an iodine supplement, such as kelp tablets or kelp extracts while using this therapy. Extended ACV consumption can remove iodine from the body, and can result in thyroid problems. (Salt also causes the same problems which is why commercial salt has added iodine.) I learned all this back in the early 1970's, and have not found this important information on iodine/ACV interaction in any articles or books recently. However I have not covered your entire site. So in case no one has mentioned this yet, it really needs to be addressed.

I read Dr. D.C. Jarvis's book about folk medicine around 1960 and began to give my children apple cider vinegar whenever they got the stomach flu. It always worked. I believe he was the one who said that the vinegar changed the ph balance in the intestinal tract so that the virus couldn't live and reproduce.

If you would like to enjoy the benefits of inhaling ACV while sleeping, you can add a cup or two of ACV to the tank (usually 1 gallon) of a cool-mist vaporizer along with enough water to fill. Then plug it in and set it next to your bed so the vapor flows in your direction. Also, the book Vermont Country Medicine by Dr. D.C. Jarvis offers a wealth of information on benefits of ACV, kelp, etc. It's out of print but you can still find copies. Thank you all for your contributions to this website. It's a treasure.

I have a suggestion that should remedy the problem with ACV possibly damaging tooth enamel over time. Use a straw when sipping your ACV remedies. This wil drastically cut down on the amount of acid contact with teeth.

... all of the acidic foods (Lemons, Tomato, Vinegar, ANY Citrus) are very bad for your teeth IF you brush within 30 minutes of eating or drinking them!! Doing so literally eats the natural enamel off of your teeth. My Dentist scolded me about this!!! So, Brush before you ingest.:) Then, Drink lots of water and make sure to swish around your teeth.

I have a small glass of about 1/4 tsp baking soda mixed with water ready, then I take 2 Tblsp ACV straight. After taking ACV, I swish with water, then swish with baking soda & water mixture & spit it out to clean all ACV out of my mouth to protect teeth. ACV has really helped digestion and constipation.

I have employed gel tabs to avoid unpleasant flavors with liquid or oil treatments. In the context of ACV, this could avoid dental enamel erosion. When you fill them with liquids, you want to consume them quickly because they will begin dissolving immediately. I have found vegetarian gel tabs readily available.

Here's a suggestion for all those folks who write, "What if I go out to dinner with friends- How can I have my ACV/ Baking Soda or other concoction close to hand? I guess I'll just have to run home!

You can make up a tiny travel kit or "night out" kit.

If you are male, check with your women friends about what they use for travelling with makeup, etc. Tell them what you need to carry and ask for suggestions how- We ladies are quite resourceful with this kind of thing :).

I have travelled with a 1-ounce bottle of ACV and a baby food jar of Baking Soda. It takes up almost no room, and is right there when you need it. You don't have to lug a quart jar of ACV out to dinner with you.

It may work for you to place your small kit in the glove compartment of your car on your way out the door (Maybe not a good idea to leave it in there 24/7), or in a manpurse if you carry one. Or in the pocket of your parka.

Just put enough pre-measured in the container for one or two applications. That alleviates the need for measuring.

There are small, flat liquid and solid containers in the cosmetic department of Walmart, other department stores or beauty supply stores which you can use for things like this.

You can use empty, cleaned baby food jars from the grocery for powders. That's just an example. Stick one of baking soda in your glovebox so thsat it's there when you need it.

It's quite possible to get creative and come up with a tiny little, one-or-two application kit which will meet your specific needs.

Just sit down and work it out once and the problem is solved.

Hope this helps someone-

Linda