ACID WEAR EROSION OR ACID WEAR: WHAT’S THE STORY?

What is acid wear and erosion?

Even though enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, it can still be worn away through repeated exposure to acid from food and drinks, from bacteria breaking down food residue or plaque build-up due to poor oral hygiene or from the stomach, due to sickness.

How can I neutralize the acid in my mouth reducing acid wear?

Preventing or minimising the impact of acid in the first place is the key. We all need to be more aware of acids in food and drinks and think about cutting back on certain things, though not cutting out things acidic like fruit or juices altogether, which are important in a healthy diet. You could also switch to a specialist toothpaste designed to help re-harden enamel.

How can I stop acid wear and wear erosion on my teeth?

With food and drink, the potential worry is that many of the culprits are ‘healthy’ things – not just obviously acidic things, like citrus fruits or vinegar, but also fruit juice, squash, wine, dried fruits like raisins and all types of fizzy drinks, including cola and diet drinks.

How can I protect my teeth from being damaged? 

It’s very important to brush your teeth twice a day and to floss once a day to give bacteria naturally present in the mouth no bits of food or plaque to feed on. However, don’t brush straight after eating something acidic, as the enamel will have been softened, meaning you could be doing more harm than good. Ideally, wait at least 30 minutes before brushing.

Also visit the dentist regularly!     https://thewhytehouse.com

How do I know if my tooth enamel is gone? 

Key signs of acid wear are sensitivity when eating or drinking hot, cold or sweet things and discolouration. Worryingly, in the early stages, teeth can still look natural and white, giving a false sense of security. Similarly, a translucent edge to the tooth or a really smooth front surface may look cosmetically pleasing, but could indicate the first signs of the enamel thinning.

Can tooth enamel be restored? https://www.bsrd.org.uk/guidelines/BSRD-Tooth-Wear-Guidelines-KH1-3.pdf

Unfortunately, there’s no way to restore lost enamel: once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. By the time patients seek help, it can often be too late, making restorations to damaged teeth more difficult and costly.