Use sugar-free chewing gum after meals to promote saliva flow.If necessary, take vitamin C supplements that are swallowed whole. Seek medical treatment for management of reflux or vomiting.Reduce how often you eat or drink anything acidic and don’t leave it sitting in your mouth for too long.Eat fruit at meal times rather than between meals.Eat fruit rather than drinking fruit juice.Drink fluoridated tap water rather than soft drink or juice.Preventing dental erosionĭental erosion can be prevented by limiting contact of acids with the teeth. When the signs of dental erosion are detected, it is very important to determine the cause and modify it. The loss of tooth structure can require complex and lengthy dental treatment involving fillings, veneers, crowns and potentially root canal treatment. Photo: Dr Nathan Cochrane Complications of dental erosionĭental erosion, if untreated, can lead to the progressive loss of the surface of the tooth. Fillings may start to become more prominent if the surrounding tooth surface is dissolving away due to erosion. When there is advanced dental erosion, the enamel may wear away to reveal the underlying dentine these areas look yellow on the tooth surface (see photo). Dental erosion can also make any exposed tooth root (dentine) sensitive to hot, cold or sweet foods and drinks. One sign of dental erosion is the loss of the surface of the tooth, leading to a smooth, shiny appearance. For further information speak to your dental professional. In particular, watch out for food acids 330 (citric acid), 331 (sodium citrate), and 338 (phosphoric acid) which are especially bad for teeth. The closer any food acids are to the start of the list, the more acid the product will have in it. The ingredients are listed in order of their amount in the food, with the most being listed first. If you check the ingredient list of foods and drinks, you can see if food acids have been added. Common foods and drinks that contain high levels of acid include:įood acids are often added to processed foods and drinks. One of the reasons for this is that acidic things taste nice. Many things that we eat and drink are acidic. For example, people with bulimia, morning sickness or reflux (which can sometimes occur without you knowing) may experience this problem. Stomach acids are very strong and can cause substantial damage to the teeth. Vomiting and reflux can cause these stomach acids to enter your mouth. The stomach contains many strong acids that are used to digest food. This is known as acid wear or erosive tooth wear. Acid can also soften the tooth surface, making it easier for it to be worn away by abrasion or teeth grinding. These acids can wash away the hard substance that makes up your teeth, leading to tooth surface loss. Dental erosion is the loss of the surface of your teeth due to acids you eat or drink, or acids coming up from your stomach.
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