What Is Tooth Erosion and Is It Dangerous?

One of the best definitions of Tooth Erosion is actually on Wikipedia. It defines Tooth Erosion as: “Acid erosion, also known as dental erosion, is a type of tooth wear. It is defined as the irreversible loss of tooth structure due to chemical dissolution by acids not of bacterial origin.”

Scary, right! The idea that the loss of tooth structure is irreversible and that it happens due to things that we consume suggests two things – the first that the likely damage from things that cause erosion is substantial and the second that we can control what we consume and so we can control the erosion on our teeth!

 

What is the tooth enamel?

This is the hardest tissue in the human body and this is what protects the tooth as we bite and chew. Grinding is one thing that even the tooth enamel finds difficult to handle. Enamel can also chip or crack.

The tooth enamel has no living cells and so if damaged the body doesn’t have an internal mechanism to repair the enamel of your tooth.

What are the dangers of tooth erosion?

When enamel begins to erode, you could find that you are beginning to get cavities in your teeth, or that the teeth are sometimes sensitive. The problem with cavities is that as food gets lodged in them, and then begins to decay, it could lead to an infection into the root of your tooth. You could also find that your teeth appear more yellow as the wearing out of the enamel exposes the dentin of the tooth.

You need to control tooth erosion through a combination of things – a good oral hygiene routine, regular checkup and care by a Dentist, and as we will see shortly, an exercise of choice on what you consume.

So, what causes enamel erosion? Primarily the consumption of soft drinks! Beverages that are high in phosphoric and citric acids.

Can food drinks be one of the culprits?

Fruit drinks should seem benign, with all their health benefits. Alas, they are not, some of them contain large amounts of citric acid, that can damage your tooth enamel. In fact its recommended not to brush your teeth right after drinking a glass of orange juice, as the action of the brush could scour your teeth, on account of the fact that acids from the juice could still be present in your mouth.

Fruit drinks too are potentially a major villain in this condition, for they are the most resistant to your saliva rebalancing the pH in your mouth.

The same effect can happen with other food and beverages that are very high in sugar.

A Dry Mouth condition, could also cause tooth erosion to happen. Some tooth erosion can also happened due to factors like stress that result in the grinding of teeth or even grinding of teeth in your sleep. For the latter condition, a night guard might help fix the problem in some cases.

So, what can you do to prevent erosion of your teeth?

After all that scary stuff, there are some simple solutions that you can control. Drink juices, soda pop and other sugary beverages less often. If you can’t cut out these drinks form your diet, then sip them with a straw so that they don’t come into excessive contact with your teeth.

Equally avoid foods that are high in sugar!

We have already pointed out the damage that can happen if you brush right after drinking a glass of juice. Put some time between juices, foods high in sugar and brushing.

You can’t recreate enamel but you can prevent further damage by doing a few simple things like using a mouthwash with fluoride. You could also ask your Dentist about the application of a fluoride gel or varnish to help further protect your teeth if erosion has already occurred.

All hope is not lost! You may be able to remineralise your tooth enamel a little bit through the consumption of Milk and other dairy beverages. Milk has the ability to cause a mineral deposit on your teeth which help your tooth enamel remineralise. Remember that even Milk cant bring back the enamel that has eroded away.

Talk to us if you have a concern with sensitive teeth or any other teeth related issues; the culprit might be enamel erosion. The sooner you treat and stop the erosion the longer your teeth will be healthy, and the longer they maintain a healthy you!