Teeth are not invincible, and they can weaken and erode the teeth surfaces, and if not addressed, this causes issues. Here, we’ll discuss a bit more about dental erosion, and what you can do to make sure that it doesn’t happen to you.
What is It?
Basically, your enamel is vital for the health of the tooth, and it protects the sensitive parts below from decay, daily wear and tear, temperatures, and even chemicals. These do get eroded over time if there are acids either initially or externally in contact with the teeth. Your body can’t repair this since there are not living cells in the teeth, so the key here is protection. Your enamel is about 96% mineral, making it some of the strongest substances out there. It’s not invincible though., with a lot of o of the teeth surfaces weakening over time as well, and your body can’t repair it, so it does cause major issues when it’s not taken care of or addressed either. In a lot of instances, it can definitely play a major role in the health and wellness of your teeth.
Signs of Tooth Erosion
There is certain signs that come with this, and here, we’ll go over them below. First and foremost, you’ve got tooth discoloration, where your enamel which is healthy will appear a bit white, but thew dentin is yellow, so you’ve got a yellow tinge that may be due to erosion as well. If you also notice the teeth look thinner along with being smaller, that also may be a sign.
Finally, if you do notice that the teeth are a lot more sensitive, especially if you feel pain when you drink anything hot or cold, this is a big part of it. This is especially true if you also eat sour or sweet foods too.
Causes of this
The cayuse of this usually is due to acids. Acids are pretty much something that’s below your normal pH level, and if you continue to subject your teeth to it, over time it does cause the enamel to wear down. Soda or other carbonated drinks riddled with sugar causes your plaque to break down, eroding the enamel. Even diet sodas are acidic, and consuming soda does erode it in the same way drug use that’s elicit happens. Drinking water is an alternative to morning soda.
Another thing is acid reflux, or GERD, and it causes your stomach acids to sometimes regurgitate, and sometimes happen in your mouth. GERD is typically caused by tomatoes, chocolate, spicy foods, alcohol, or even coffee. This is usually treated with medication, and it might be something that you talk to your doctor about when looking for mor direct kinds of treatments. It also may happen due to pregnancy, since this happens with morning sickness. It can cause acid to sit around in your mouth, and it can be hard to deal with. Brushing your teeth after morning sickness is very important.
Then there are swimming pools. Chlorine does target the teeth if you do get water in your mouth. You should always check the pH and chlorine levels before you go in, to make sur that it won’t wear down the acids within the teeth.
How to treat this
The best ways to treat this are to limit acidic beverages and foods, rinse with water as much as you can, and always wait for brushing, especially if you just had acidic food. You should always talk to your doctor too if you’re curious about what to do, and the best ways to treat this.
