What is Acidic Erosion?
Teeth are an extremely important part of our body. They help us eat and enjoy food, and they’re one of the first things that people notice when they meet us. To leave a great first impression, one should have a shiny, bright, and confident smile. Unfortunately, teeth need to be taken care of and maintained properly to stay in the best shape they can. Many people search dentists for a tooth implant at Arbor View, which is a great option for replacing missing teeth, no matter what the cause is. Alternatively, if you’re looking to get your teeth whitened, you can get teeth bleaching or dental implants oakbrook terrace.
When it comes to the common issues people have with their teeth, one that is usually overlooked is acidic erosion. It’s not easily noticeable and usually comes with no symptoms until the damage is too great to cause certain symptoms..
Acid erosion causes the loss of tooth structure not caused by bacteria but due to chemical effects from acids. It’s the most commonly found dental issue in children aged 5–17 due to the high intake of fruit juices. Although most consider them healthy, they do include substances that cause acid erosion and thinning of the tooth enamel.
The Most Common Causes of Acid Erosion
Those that visit the dentist every six months don’t usually get to the stage where acid erosion tooth treatment is required because they’re well aware of the most common causes of acidic erosion. If acid erosion is left untreated, the worst-case scenario is that you’ll need tooth replacement because there won’t be enough tooth structure to fix. So, it’s important to know what causes acid erosion in the first place to prevent it from happening.
Soft Drinks With Phosphoric and Citric Acids
What goes better on a hot sunny day than a cool soft drink with your favorite flavor, right? Well, sorry to be the bearers of bad news, but soft drinks with phosphoric and citric acids are one of the most common things that cause acidic erosion in teeth.
No one can stop you from having a soft drink every once in a while, though. But after you have one, make sure to brush your teeth to get rid of all the sugar that can be found in these drinks.
Fruit Juices, Sour Foods, and Candy
Certain fruit juices have unbelievably aggressive acids that can quickly wear down tooth enamel. Sour foods have natural acids, while candy usually has a combination of acids and sugar that are the perfect mix for mouth bacteria to create additional acid around your teeth.
Low Water Intake
Drinking the recommended amount of water each day is far more important than most people think. Not only does it keep you hydrated and your body functioning properly, but it also washes down the acid in your mouth as well as food debris. The more hydrated you are, the more saliva your body will produce, which has the same effect as drinking water.
High-Sugar and Starch Diet
Most people like sweets, but the problem is when your diet becomes saturated with sugar and starch. It’s easy to replace healthy foods with a sugary diet, especially if you enjoy having sweets often. As we mentioned already, bacteria feed off of sugar and create acid that can quickly cause acidic erosion.
The equation is simple — the more sugary food you have, the quicker the bacteria will generate acid that will wear down your teeth.
Acid Reflux (GERD)
Acid reflux is a common health issue. But, what most people don’t know is that stomach acid can wear down enamel pretty quickly. That’s why it’s important to treat this health issue as soon as you notice the first signs.
What Are the Signs of an Acid Erosion Tooth Problem?
The biggest problem with acid erosion is that it’s very difficult to notice until it causes extensive damage to the tooth enamel. One of the reasons why so many people visit an implant dentist looking for dental implants is because acid erosion has already damaged their teeth beyond repair.
Regularly visiting your dentist will reduce your fear of having to replace missing teeth due to enamel wear because the dentist will see the first signs of acid erosion and other tooth problems.
There are a couple of acidic erosion symptoms you need to look for to keep your teeth strong and healthy and avoid having a tooth implant due to worn-down enamel.
Highly sensitive teeth are one of the first symptoms of acid erosion you’ll experience. Namely, sensitivity to hot and cold beverages or sugary foods is a sign of early acidic erosion and worn-down enamel. Tooth discoloration is another sign of erosion because worn-out enamel shows more dentin, which makes the teeth look more yellow.
Frequent cavities and tooth decay happen much faster, too, if the enamel is worn down. If you notice cavities returning frequently and being much bigger than even your dentist expected, it’s most likely that you suffer from acid erotion.
How to Prevent Acid Erosion From Occurring?
There are a lot of ways to prevent acid erosion that don’t include visiting the dentist every couple of months. Keeping oral hygiene at a high level will prevent acid erosion. So, make sure you brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss regularly, and rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash.
Something else you can do is limit the snacks you eat on a daily basis. These snacks usually have substances that increase acid levels in your mouth, so even if you have snacks during the day, make sure to clean your teeth right after.
Drinking a lot of water will also help reduce the possibility of experiencing acidic erosion. Chewing sugar-free gum between meals will also help because it boosts saliva production ten times more than usual. As we mentioned, saliva washes down the acid and strengthens the teeth.