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Erosion is the loss of tooth enamel caused by acid attack. Enamel is the hard, protective coating of the tooth, which protects the sensitive dentine underneath. When the enamel is worn away, the dentine underneath is exposed, which may lead to pain and sensitivity.
Erosion usually shows up as hollows in the teeth and a general wearing away of the tooth surface and biting edges. This can expose the dentine underneath, which is a darker, yellower colour than the enamel. Because the dentine is sensitive, your teeth can also be more sensitive to heat and cold, or acidic foods and drinks.
Every time you eat or drink anything acidic, the enamel on your teeth becomes softer for a short while, and loses some of its mineral content. Your saliva will slowly cancel out this acidity in your mouth and get it back to its natural balance. However, if this acid attack happens too often, your mouth does not have a chance to repair itself and tiny particles of enamel can be brushed away. Over time, you start to lose the surface of your teeth.
Bulimia is a condition where patients make themselves sick so that they lose weight. Because there are high levels of acid in the vomit, this can cause damage to tooth enamel. Acids produced by the stomach can come up into the mouth (this is called gastro-oesophageal reflux). People suffering from hiatus hernia or oesophageal problems, or who drink too much alcohol, may also find they suffer from dental erosion due to vomiting.
Acidic foods and drinks can cause erosion. Acidity is measured by its ‘pH value’, and anything that has a pH value lower than 5.5 is more acidic and can harm your teeth. Fizzy drinks can cause erosion. It is important to remember that even the diet brands are still harmful. Even flavoured fizzy waters can have an effect if taken in large amounts, as they contain weak acids which can harm your teeth.
Acidic foods and drinks such as fruit and fruit juices, particularly citrus ones including lemon and orange, contain natural acids which can be harmful to your teeth, especially if you have a lot of them often.
‘Alcopop’ drinks that contain acidic fruits and are fizzy can cause erosion too.
Still water is the best drink for teeth, and milk is also good because it helps to neutralise the acids in your mouth.
Many sports drinks contain ingredients that can cause dental erosion. However, it is important for athletes to avoid dehydration because this can lead to a dry mouth and bad breath.
There are a number of things you can do:
We recommend you use a fluoride toothpaste twice a day. Children up to three years old should use a toothpaste with a fluoride level of at least 1000ppm (parts per million). Three-year-olds to adults should use a toothpaste that contains 1350ppm to 1500ppm. In severe cases fluoride supplements such as rinses and gels may be used once a day. Your dentist or hygienist will tell you the best supplement to use.
Dental erosion does not always need to be treated. With regular checkups your dentist can prevent the problem getting any worse and the erosion going any further. In other cases it is important to protect the tooth and the dentine underneath to prevent sensitivity. In these cases, simply bonding a filling onto the tooth will be enough to repair it. However, in more severe cases the dentist may need to fit a veneer.(see our ‘Tell me about’ leaflet Veneers).
Costs will vary, depending on the type of treatment you need. It is important to talk about all the treatment options with your dentist and get a written estimate of the cost before starting treatment.
Source: British Dental Health Foundation
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