Tiffiny Hall The Pronamel Acid Truth Survey Interview

The Pronamel Acid Truth Survey – a revealing new survey into the state of the nation's oral health – has discovered that three out of four Australians surveyed (76%) claimed to have experienced acid wear on their teeth, yet less than a third (32%) knew how to protect against it.

The survey highlights the need for further education on the issue; whilst 59% claimed they were aware that fruit could contribute to acid wear, an overwhelming 84% did not know that one of the nation's favourite superfoods – blueberries – could contribute too.

Acid wear is caused when the acids found in everyday foods and drinks come into contact with tooth enamel. Foods with a pH balance below five are considered acidic, meaning they are more likely to contribute to acid wear. Such foods include: blueberries, honey, grapes, pomegranates, grapefruit, strawberries, kiwi fruit, mangoes, green olives, apples, oranges, apricots and dates.

With the increasing popularity of healthy food trends such as juice detoxes, DIY smoothies, clean eating and raw food diets, it's little surprise that 76% claimed to consume at least one piece of raw fruit and/or vegetable every day.

The survey commissioned by GSK, manufacturers of Pronamel - shows that acid wear may be common, and may affect as many as 1 in 3 young adults. It has been thought of as an older person's problem because acid wear gets worse over time, but this new survey, conducted with 18-35 year olds, surprisingly found that 76% of this generation believe that their teeth are already showing signs of acid wear.

Best known for her role as a trainer on The Biggest Loser, TV health and fitness expert Tiffiny Hall said:'I enjoy a healthy diet with lots of fresh fruit and veggies, often kick-starting my day by adding shot of apple cider vinegar to my morning juice.

I had never given much thought to the pH balances of these foods until my dentist told me I was at risk of developing acid wear. Healthy eating is a way of life for me, but I also want to make sure my teeth stay in top condition for decades to come.

Tiffiny continued: 'People recognise that fruit juice, wine and soft drinks can all cause acid wear, but what about blueberries, grapefruits, pomegranates and honey? There is currently very little understanding around the healthy foods that are contributing to acid wear and what we can do to protect against it".

The survey also found that, despite the majority of those surveyed claiming they were exposed to acid wear; only 17% had consulted a dentist about it.

Campaign ambassador and dental expert, Dr Peter Alldritt explained: 'Unfortunately, one of the common ailments of the modern diet is acid wear caused by the acidic pH balances found in some of the healthy foods we eat daily".

When acids come into contact with teeth, the enamel softens leaving teeth more vulnerable to acid wear. As people strive to lead healthier lives with higher fruit intake – often consumed in its raw state – our daily acid intake has increased too.

However, there's no need to change a healthy diet. Dr Peter Alldritt recommends following a simple five-step plan to help protect teeth from the risk of developing acid wear whilst still maintaining a healthy lifestyle:
1. Eat foods high in acid quickly – don't hold them in your mouth.
2. Drink plenty of water.
3. Avoid brushing your teeth immediately after eating or drinking and make sure you're using a soft-bristled toothbrush.
4. Consider using an optimised, fluoride toothpaste such as Pronamel to strengthen enamel and give you extra protection from the effects of everyday acidic foods and drinks.

5. Follow the advice of your dental professional and have regular dental checkups.

No two toothpastes are the same; Pronamel has a unique formulation that has been designed to help keep acid-challenged enamel healthy as it actively strengthens and re-hardens weakened enamel, helping to make it stronger, healthier and better protected against the effects of acid wear. Australians can get to know their Acid Truth by taking the short quiz at www.pronamel.com.au/how_acid_wear_affects_you.

Interview with Tiffiny Hall

Question: What message do you hope Australians take away from this survey?

Tiffiny Hall: We are not at all saying that healthy food causes acid wear and to stop eating healthy food. What we are saying is to be mindful that healthy food and all food that you eat in your everyday life can affect your teeth and the health of your teeth. I hope that we are giving people an education on how they can be armed to better protect their teeth in the future.


Question: Can you talk us through how your healthy diet put you at risk of acid wear?

Tiffiny Hall: At the moment there are many healthy trends including juice detoxes, DIY smoothies and raw food diets. I am a big fan of the Apple Cider Vinegar shot, in the morning and I didn't realise that all of these healthy choices can put you at risk of acid wear.

76% of people who were surveyed in The Pronamel Acid Truth Survey campaign had been exposed to acid wear (which is massive) and they didn't know how to fix it. We are hoping to educate people on acid wear caused by dietary acid.


Question: How can we combat the risk of acid wear from our diet?

Tiffiny Hall: It is about moderation; I am an advocate for health, especially moderation. Incredibly 84% of people didn't know that blueberries are one of the highest acidic foods you can have when eaten raw. Little tweaks to your diet and eating things in moderation can help protect your teeth, along with using Pronamel toothpaste, which I have used for years.


Question: How have you modified your diet to ensure you reduce your risk of acid wear?

Tiffiny Hall: I cook my blueberries now; I used to eat peas and blueberries raw and frozen, I now make sure I microwave them. I also dilute my Apple Cider Vinegar in water. I keep foods like honey, grapefruit, apples and a lot of my favourite foods in moderation. The worst foods you can eat are soft drink, wine, fatty acidic foods and alcohol.

When you eat acidic foods, the tooth enamel softens and that is dangerous because your teeth become exposed to acid wear. A really balanced diet, drinking lots of water and looking after your teeth with Pronamel toothpaste will protect you and your teeth as it will reharden the tooth enamel, afterwards. Regular dental check-ups and not brushing your teeth immediately after you've eaten or drunk anything will help the enamel harden too.


Question: How did you find out you were suffering from acid wear?

Tiffiny Hall: I was really shocked. I went to the dentist because I'm getting married in a few months and I wanted my teeth to be sparkling. The dentist said I was at risk of acid wear and I thought he was kidding because I'm the healthiest person on the planet, I didn't believe him! It has been a real eye opener because it is something that is really important. I often get complemented on my teeth or asked if they're real – they are 100% real and they're great because I look after them with my diet and I've been using Pronamel toothpaste for so many years. I highly recommend taking the measures and then you can have sparkling teeth on your wedding day.


Question: What advice do you have for Australians hoping to become healthier in the winter months?

Tiffiny Hall: Yes! Unfortunately summer bodies are made in winter (which is difficult). Motivation is always a big one; I am a big fan of getting social, forget punishing runs in the cold or getting up super early when it's dark, yuk! Do classes – I love them! I do Taekwondo classes which is social, for me; I am also a Body Pump and Body Combat instructor, I do yoga too. Getting social is a way to get and stay motivated because when you have your friends around you, you are most likely to keep the appointment which is very important.

Eating naked healthy foods that are close to the source and wholefoods are really important to keep the immune system up and prevent you from getting sick. I recommend staying away from bad comfort foods, especially in winter. It's very easy to sit in front of the TV and have your hand in a bag of chips and eat unconsciously which is why keeping mindful in winter is very important. You don't need to warm yourself up with bad foods. Address the mental aspect and keep that in check!


Question: Can you talk us through a typical day's diet, for you?

Tiffiny Hall: Every day is different as I'm a big fan of variety however this morning I made the most delicious breakfast. My fiancé works in breakfast radio so he came home and he said the breakfast was restaurant quality which made me proud; I made a Breakfast Burrito, I cooked egg whites, a little bit of bacon, chicken and pumpkin with avocado and wrapped it in a chia wrap – it was delicious!

Usually I have oats and berries or an egg white vegetable omelette or spelt crackers with avocado and ricotta cheese for breakfast. I stick to easy dishes for breakfast that can be done on the run. For lunch I stick to salads using quinoa, brown rice and chicken; I am always trying to make interesting salads. I'm a big fan of fish, I love eating fish and fish oils as good fats are very important to the diet as then your body doesn't hold onto fat. I eat a lot of white fish and salmon for dinner but I also love kangaroo and lamb (laughs), I grill those then eat them with fresh vegetables. I love kale and brussel sprouts which are both a lot more powerful than broccoli. I try to pack in nutrients whenever I can to keep my energy levels up. I don't drink soft drink or alcohol but being from Melbourne, I do drink lots of coffee, I love my coffee and I'll never give that up!

Question: What's next for you?

Tiffiny Hall: I'm working on a stand-alone novel for older readers which is very exciting, it is set for release in June next year. I am doing a lot of work in corporate health and teaching my Taekwondo and classes. I am loving having the balance of working in my home office and computer, I understand how hard it is to be healthy as when I'm writing and studying I feel like jelly beans! The sugar cravings are bad and I understand how hard it is to stay healthy when you're in that environment around the computer. I know short workouts are time effective which is why I get up early and do a work out before 7am so then it's done for the day and I can do what's thrown at me!


Interview by Brooke Hunter