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If you eat fruit or drink juices, soda, or white wine more than once a day, your teeth may be at risk of enamel loss, known as erosion. Eating pickled vegetables, salads with vinegar-based sauces or vitamin C lozenges carries a similar risk.
Quite healthy teeth may have slight damage that is not immediately visible. This is how erosion begins, which can lead to enamel destruction. The latest scientific research has proven that there is an effective method of inhibiting it.
Healthy eating, healthy rules
High acid foods and beverages contribute to erosion of the teeth, as well as certain medications and dietary supplements that may contain acid. Most of these products are healthy and worth eating as long as we protect our teeth against their damaging effects. Especially since erosion is an irreversible process. The pH of acids from acidic beverages and food is low and can range from 2 to 4. Normal oral pH is 6-7. These acids, in addition to stomach acids in people suffering from reflux, are the main factor that causes the gradual dissolution and loss of tooth enamel. The most important rule to protect our teeth is to avoid brushing your teeth immediately after eating acidic food. It is best to wait a minimum of 30 or even 60 minutes. This is the time our saliva needs to restore the correct pH. Before that, it is recommended to rinse the mouth with water. However, it is best to end your meal with indifferent food, not fruit or juices. Between meals, it is worth using chewing gum, which also restores the correct pH in the mouth. Teeth must be cleaned with anti-erosion toothpaste. The ingredients contained in it will complement the cavities in the enamel. You should also rinse your mouth with a non-alcoholic enamel-strengthening fluid.
Fight against erosion
The main symptoms of erosion are gradual loss of enamel, yellowish discoloration of the teeth due to the whitening of the dentin and their hypersensitivity manifested by pain after drinking hot and cold drinks. In the initial stage, erosion is difficult to notice, so it is best to ask the dentist during the check-up visit if he has noticed any disturbing symptoms. Visible enamel loss, tooth discoloration, and sensitivity can occur if proper steps are not taken quickly to prevent erosion from progressing. In severe cases, it may be necessary to rebuild with prosthetic restorations. The latest scientific research has shown that toothpastes with the right composition are able to stop this process.
Choose a paste and a liquid
Specialists recommend the use of pastes containing chitosan, stannous chloride and amine fluoride, which effectively protect the enamel from dissolving. They form a layer on the surface of the teeth that protects them against the effects of acids. The stannous and fluoride ions are incorporated into the enamel, making the teeth more resistant to erosion. Additionally, the amine fluoride protects against caries. The treatment is completed by the daily use of non-alcoholic mouthwashes to strengthen the enamel. We should also remember that the pressure exerted on the teeth during brushing may contribute to faster loss of damaged enamel. If we are at risk of tooth erosion, we should buy toothbrushes marked with the word Sensitive. Pastes that are too abrasive, e.g. for smokers, can also have a negative effect. Many patients after teeth whitening procedures complain of hypersensitivity, which may indicate the beginning of enamel erosion. Therefore, only clinically tested products should be used for whitening, follow all instructions and consult a specialist in the field of dentistry. And after whitening, it is important to use a suitable toothpaste every day, regularly, to protect against hypersensitivity.
Don’t get over acid
Gastroesophageal reflux disease may also be the cause of tooth enamel erosion. It is estimated that about half of the adult population in developed countries suffers from this condition. As a result of inadequate work of the sphincter muscle that separates the stomach from the esophagus, the swallowed food returns from the stomach along with the digestive acids that destroy the teeth. The most common symptom of reflux disease is burning behind the breastbone, i.e. heartburn. However, the disease can also be asymptomatic. Erosive cavities caused by reflux disease appear in characteristic places – on the palatine and chewing surfaces of the jaw teeth (mainly the front ones), as well as on the cheek and chewing surfaces of the mandibular teeth. The problem of heartburn should be consulted with a doctor, preferably a gastroenterologist.
Tekst: Halina of Pilon
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