Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV): 9 Top Uses & Health Benefits

Dental Enamel Issues

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Posted by Dan (Redford, Mi) on 05/10/2010

If I mix cider vinegar with water and drink small amounts during the day, wouldn't that slowly remove my tooth enamel after a few years?

Replied by Siobhan
(Fairbanks, Alaska)
10/23/2010

To protect my teeth from the vinegar acid, I swish baking soda and water around in my mouth after every dose of ACV. Usually about a teaspoon of baking soda to a mouthful of water mixed in a small cup does the trick.

Replied by Meenu
(Vancouver, Bc Canada)
10/25/2010

Since I've started "ACV" FRO 2 MONTHS NOW I'VE NOTICED MY TEETH R PALE YELLOW AND "ACV" MAKES ME CONSTIPATED. PLEASE ANY REMEDIES FOR BOTH THESE PROBLEMS. WHAT IS THE REACTION U R GETTING AFTER USING BAKING SODA N HOW DO U USE IT AFTER "ACV". THX N BEST REGARDS TO ALL OF U.

Replied by Nuri
(Tacoma, Wa, Usa)
11/11/2010

Hi, sorry you feel a connection between ACV and yellow teeth. I haven't heard that problem before so perhaps there are other more complex reasons for this sighting. I have several homemade tonics which I take each day. I give you one which I use that covers the
ACV question:

I make this big health mixture every two days:
Start with a big pitcher or jar that will hold 40 oz or more. Pour in 32 oz of clean water
Put in 1/4 cup of Ted's magnesium/carbonated water concoction, plus 1/4 cup of organic ACV,
Plus 1/4 cup of organic unsulphered Black Strap Molasses

Cover the jar tightly and shake well. It mixes up real good. Pour yourself an 18 oz glass every morning and take 4 good swallows of it before brushing your teeth, then brush your teeth right after swallowing the tonic using nothing but baking soda to brush with. Spit and rinse, spit gain. Follow with a nice "food grade Hydrogen Peroxide 1/10 ratio mix". Slush it around for a few minutes and spit it somewhere. Then sip the mixture again every couple of hours like a little snack instead of soda pop or coffee. Then sip right before your 3 major meals and before bedtime, and brush with baking soda, rinse with peroxide mixture after each meal and before bed. The magnesium ought to take care of the constipation, if not eat a wider variety and larger quantity of garden vegetables

Dental Enamel Issues

Posted by Jordan (Houston, Tx) on 12/10/2009

Question, as ACV is acidic, would it be a bad idea to put some in coffee? Coffee i know, is acidic..so I was just wondering what it would do. I dont want it to ruin my teeth by having too much acid or any other part in my body.

Replied by Dott
(Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Usa)
12/13/2009

Dilute your ACV with water, a couple ice cubes, and a couple crushed mint leaves..... and drink it through a straw. (Pretend it's a mint julip.) Then, brush your teeth after. Problem solved! ACV is an mild acid, but, I have heard that it is modified in the body by calcium, phosphate, magnesium and other alkalines; eventually winding up rather alkaline itself.

Replied by Elysa
(A, Tx)
12/02/2011

Actually I saw a study saying we are not supposed to brush our teeth until 30 minutes after eating something acidic because acid apparently loosens the enamel and it's possible to brush it away.

I personally like to rinse my mouth out with plain water and then wait to brush my teeth 'til later. No more sensitive teeth while brushing! :)

Replied by Halfy
(Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
02/07/2012

Do not brush teeth after anything acidic!

It's correct that the acids weaken the enamel. Brushing immediately after will eventually brush away the tooth enamel. Not brushing right away lets the enamel strengthen again. You can rinse with baking soda and water before brushing your teeth, wait at least half an hour before brushing, or just use the apple cider vinegar after brushing your teeth.

The same goes after drinking cola, orange juice, or anything else acidic.

Dental Enamel Issues

Posted by Giglez2u (Morrill, Ne, United States) on 09/30/2009

Here's the thing, I've recently adopted the acv ritual of 3tbsp acv, 16oz. glass water, 2 sometimes 3x's day. I like the taste of it, no necessary sodas or honey to add, and I find that I crave it throughout the day. I AM concerned however, about tooth sensitivity to it. I've not experienced it but have read previous posts that problems with sensitivity and softening of the enamal occurs. Is that true? Am I going to have to stop? I will admit, I am completely obsessed about my teeth and my dentist is on my speed dial! lol, Can't help it, I love to keep my smile looking its best. So, should I cut back or not worry? I've used a straw, but honestly, I don't think that works. Contact w/ teeth isn't minimal to me. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Dental Enamel Issues

Posted by Veronica (South Connellsville, Pa) on 10/14/2008
★★★★★

I began drinking the Apple Cider Vinegar several days ago. I LOVE how I feel from taking it but my only concern was my tooth enamel since I have read so many 'warnings' on postings, articles and advice pages.

I am using a recipe that I took from this site: Green Tea with Mandarin Orange, 1 Tbsp ACV, 1 Tbsp Honey, 7 drops of concentrated Lemon Juice and 7 drops of concentrated Lime juice (steeping tea bag until desired strength is reached) ... 3 times per day.

I am getting my friend started on it and she happened to have a dentist appointment today and so she asked him about it. She told him exactly what we are drinking and he said that the amount that we are drinking won't damage our teeth any more than the sodas we drink. He said that since we are diluting it, he didn't feel that we had any problems. He suggested rinsing the mouth within 20 minutes of drinking but NEVER brushing right away because brushing after eating or drinking anything that has a lot of acid WILL DAMAGE THE TEETH. That doesn't just apply to ACV but ANYTHING that falls into this category.

Then the dentist asked "May I ask WHY you are drinking ACV?" ... so she got to share that her crazy friend is insisting that she is going to feel better after drinking it. I can't wait to prove I'm right!!! ha ha

Dental Enamel Issues

Posted by Hope (Inverness, FL) on 06/10/2008
0 out of 5 stars

Hi. I absolutely LOVE the benefits of apple cider vinegar. However, I must warn people about drinking it straight. You must use a straw. I have been drinking it for about a year and my teeth are starting to wear down. I even have a hole in my front bottom tooth. Really weird. The dentist told me it was from Apple Cider Vinegar. So please use a straw if you drink it!

Dental Enamel Issues

Posted by Chris (Seattle, Washington) on 03/07/2008
★★★★★

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.

Dental Enamel Issues

Posted by Cindy (Sterling, CO) on 12/12/2007
★★★★★

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.

Dental Enamel Issues

Posted by Natalie (Decatur, GA, USA) on 11/20/2007
★★★★★

... 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.

Dental Enamel Issues

Posted by Merry (Coon Rapids, Minnesota) on 10/09/2007
★★★★★

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.

Dental Enamel Issues

Posted by Tom (Lansford, PA) on 08/29/2007
★★★★★

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.

Dental Enamel Issues

Posted by Nathan (Portland, OR) on 03/22/2007
★★★★★

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.

Dental Enamel Issues

Posted by Perenchenco (Chicago) on 06/15/2006
★★★★★

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.)

Dental Enamel Issues

Posted by Tom (Milford, NJ) on 05/27/2006
★★★★★

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.

Dental Enamel Issues

Posted by Terri (Prospect, OR)
★★★★★

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.

Dental Enamel Issues

Posted by Marco (Eindhoven, Netherlands)
★★★★★

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.