Acid can Harm Teeth
Symptoms of Acid Erosion
Symptoms of acid erosion of teeth include "cupped" areas on cusp tips on premolars or molars and sometimes larger areas of enamel loss on front or back surfaces of teeth. The symptoms typically occur over years, unless a patient adopts an especially destructive habit.
Causes of Acid Erosion of Teeth
typically include frequent exposure of the teeth to acid in food and beverages. It has become very popular in our culture to consume beverages non-stop. Many of us sip a beverage all day and in to the evening, at a desk, in a car, in front of a computer, playing video games, or attending a sporting event. Every sip of a beverage or nibble of a food alters conditions in your mouth for up to half an hour. Look at the labels of your favorite items, and you are likely to find high concentrations of phosphoric acid, citric acid, nitric acid and more. Carbonated beverages usually contain acid, and so do many sports drinks, coffee, tea, fruit juices, etc. Those who swim in chlorinated pools frequently can suffer from exposure to chlorine in the water. Your dentist can tell you if acid erosion is present during a routine exam. Additional causes of acid erosion include GERD (gastro-esophogeal reflux disease), and eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.
Advanced Cases of Acid Erosion
Advanced cases of acid erosion can cause severe loss of tooth structure, where the teeth become substantially shorter, causing the bite to close, and your chin can actually get closer to your nose. Some patients lose most of the enamel on effected tooth surfaces, so chewing surfaces of back teeth lose the cusps and grooves resulting in flat chewing surfaces.
Treatment of Acid Erosion of Teeth
We strive to point out signs of acid erosion as soon as they appear, so we can counsel patients to prevent extreme conditions. The earliest signs of acid erosion may not require restoration. Moderate erosion may require restoration to preserve the height of your teeth and to maintain a good appearance. Extreme cases require restoration of all of the teeth with crowns or veneers, and rare cases require extraction of teeth that are eroded to the gum line.
Prevention of Acid Erosion of Teeth
Prevention of acid erosion is very easy - simply reduce the frequency of exposure to acid in your diet. So, instead of gradually sipping that 32-ounce cup of diet pop over the course of several hours, reduce your dose to a single small cup during a meal, and skip the sipping. Finish your juice, coffee, or tea during a break instead of spreading it out. Brush with baking soda to neutralize the acid after an exposure.