What's Eating Your Teeth?
THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK
In the last 10 years, Chuck and I have been seeing a spike in the number of patients who we see with worn layers of enamel or "dental erosion". Recent studies show that routine daily activities such as consuming acidic foods, beverages, and medications; and even swimming in chlorinated pools may be the culprits. After you read the following article, you might want to look up the acidity of your favorite beverage or foods. Click on the menu on the left side of this page.
We used to think that everyone we saw with "tooth wear' was grinding their teeth. Now we know there may be other very important factors....
What exactly is "erosion?"
Dental erosion is caused by the weakening and wearing away of the outer mineralized layer of the tooth. Erosion is one of the leading factors contributing to tooth sensitivity and decay. Understanding and avoiding these factors is crucial because often erosion is irreversible damage.
It turns out that the acidity of the mouth is critical to the speed of the enamel loss. A neutral pH level in the mouth can range from 6.75 to 7.25. Tooth structure begins to soften and demineralize when the pH levels fall between 6.0 and 5.5. When people consume foods and beverages with high acidity, their risk of erosion increases because they have a lower the pH level in their mouth.
Exposure Time Matters
The number of times a day you are exposed to the acids is important. So if you keep that can of diet soda on your desk all day or drink your sports drink intermittently over the entire baseball game, you are increasing the amount of time your mouth is acidic.
Sports and Energy Drinks
Sports and Energy Drinks, flavored waters are MAJOR contributors to erosion.
Although flavored water and sports drinks may appeal to the taste buds, some products pose the same risks as soda. Reading the label of flavored water or sports drinks is essential for protecting teeth. Many of the flavored waters contain citric acid or some other form of acid to create a pleasant and desirable taste. The pH levels of many flavored waters range from 2.74 to 3.34. (That is nearly the same pH as vinegar! Yikes!)
Alcoholic Beverages
All alcoholic beverages can cause erosion if consumed frequently enough, but one of the greatest concerns is wine consumption. The pH levels of wine range from 2.3 to 3.8; beer pH levels range from 4.0 to 5.0. When an acidic beverage is consumed with food, the risk of erosion is decreased because some foods, such as proteins or fats, offer a neutralizing mechanism to the tooth surface and stimulate salivary flow. The risk of erosion increases when an acidic beverage is consumed without food and over time. This puts leisurely wine drinkers and professional wine tasters at high risk. Wine tasters may sample wines several times a day and hold the wine in their mouths for up to a minute at a time making their risk of erosion significant.
Medications & Illness
Whether it is long or short term, the illness itself may result in reduced salivary flow, or cause vomiting and/or acid reflux disease (heart burn). On top of that, medications taken during the illness cause may dry mouth which is a serious threat to the teeth and gums.
Various prescription medications and asthma inhalers can create a highly acidic environment. Over-the-counter products such as chewable vitamin C tablets, aspirin and cough drops are culprits as well. One analysis of various pediatric medications found that many contained large amounts of sugar in addition to low pH levels - double trouble.
Acidity in the Environment
Swimming can pose an environmental risk of dental erosion. A healthy and balanced pool has an average water pH of 7.5. If the water is over-chlorinated, the pH level could be less than 3.0. Given that most swimmers take in mouthfuls of water during the duration of their time in the pool, the water pH level in swimming pools could contribute to erosion of tooth structure.
Certain acidity in air quality can put people at risk. For example battery manufacturers and galvanizing workers are at risk of erosion due to their daily occupational exposure to acid.
A Summary of Preventive Measures
- Do not to brush for at least 30 minutes after an acid exposure. This includes drinking acidic beverages, eating acidic fruit, vomiting, swimming, etc.
- Swish with unflavored water after acid exposure to decrease pH level
- Consume your low PH beverages at once, with meals or through a straw.
- Drink plain water, it is great for your body as well as your teeth.
- Be sure swimming pools are not over-chlorinated.
- Visit the dentist regularly for erosion evaluation
- Fluoride treatments are helpful for patients with frequent exposures to an acidic environment.
- Eat food when consuming alcoholic beverages to neutralize the acids
- Read labels and be on the lookout for "citric" or other acids as an ingredient
- Use professional or professionally approved whitening products and consider the concurrent use of fluoride.
With your increased awareness about the significant risks posed by some drinks, foods, and behaviors, in addition to professional care and calcium phosphate technologies you can continue to enjoy most of your favorite foods, beverages and activities.
Most of this information is from: http://www.smilereminder.com/sr/temp/view.do?id=c511d12f16de17f5