However, up to 25% of patients with acid reflux will have no symptoms. Dentists are often the first professionals to come into contact with acid reflux, as enamel erosion on the back molars may be a sign of the presence of stomach acid in the oral cavity.

How does acid reflux affect the oral cavity? Here’s how GERD can contribute to tooth decay.

Enamel Loss Increases Risk of Cavities

Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, but it’s no match for stomach acid, which is so strong it can actually dissolve razor blades!

When tooth enamel is lost due to erosion from harsh acids or bacteria, it can’t be replaced. Loss of tooth enamel increases your risk of tooth decay. The harsh stomach acids that leak into the esophagus in people with GERD can eventually make their way up the esophagus and into the mouth. These acids are extremely corrosive to tooth enamel.

This type of damage usually happens on the surface of the back molars on the lower jaw, which are the closest teeth to the back of your throat and therefore the most likely to experience the harmful effects of stomach acid.

Dry Mouth May Exacerbate Tooth Decay

Patients with acid reflux often experience dry mouth on account of the traces of acid that can be present in the oral cavity.

Dry mouth in itself can cause an upset in the balance of oral bacteria and contribute to tooth decay; dry mouth combined with GERD can quickly work to damage tooth enamel and wear away the surface of the back molars among other teeth.

Other symptoms of acid reflux include chronic bad breath or a persistent bad taste in your mouth. Both of these can be symptoms of gum disease as well, so discovering the cause of these symptoms with your dentist is essential.

How to Stop Tooth Decay from Acid Reflux

People with acid reflux may need to try harder to avoid foods that can aggravate tooth decay, such as sugar. Combining sugar with harmful stomach acids in the mouth can be detrimental to your smile.

In addition, people with acid reflux may also experience a flare of symptoms with foods such as tomatoes and citrus fruits; both of these are acidic and can worsen the effect of GERD on your smile.

Make your dentist aware of your acid reflux and ask him or her how often you should come in. You may need to come in more often in order to keep your teeth healthy and prevent damage from acid reflux.

Managing your acid reflux can help you protect both your smile and your body from this harmful condition!

Acid reflux absolutely has the potential to contribute to tooth decay. Visiting your dentist can help you catch acid reflux early in the event that you are asymptomatic and prevent harm to your teeth. Make an appointment with your dentist today if you suspect you’re suffering from GERD!

The post Does Acid Reflux Contribute to Tooth Decay? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Although having sensitive teeth is typically a chronic problem, the discomfort can be managed. One of the ways to manage this discomfort is with the right toothpaste. There are certain ingredients you can look for in desensitizing toothpaste that’ll help ease your pain and protect your teeth. Check the label for these helpful sensitivity fighters!

Calcium Phosphate to Remineralize Teeth

Since tooth enamel is composed of mostly calcium, calcium phosphate in your toothpaste can actually help to remineralize your teeth. Although you can’t replace the tooth enamel that’s been lost, the calcium phosphate can work to strengthen and protect your remaining tooth enamel from sensitivity.

When you lose tooth enamel, sensitive nerves become exposed and can carry the temperature of whatever is in your mouth to the pulp of your tooth. Tooth enamel can be lost through harsh brushing, frequently eating acidic foods (think sugar), and teeth grinding.

When you regularly brush with toothpaste that contains calcium, your saliva can help replenish your teeth with this important mineral to prevent painful sensitivity from occurring.

Potassium Nitrate to Stop Sensitivity

Potassium nitrate is a compound that works to block nerves at the tooth’s surface from
reaching the sensitive, interior pulp of your tooth.

Potassium nitrate helps to desensitize your teeth and reduce your discomfort by soothing these nerves. Potassium nitrate is considered to be a safe ingredient in toothpastes and is helpful for many people with tooth sensitivity.

Although effective, toothpastes that contain potassium nitrate may take 2-4 weeks to show results. It’s important to be consistent with brushing your teeth with the toothpaste and don’t give up. The results you experience will make waiting for this ingredient to work worth it!

Fluoride to Strengthen Enamel

Fluoride is an essential ingredient in desensitizing toothpastes that can help strengthen your tooth enamel and prevent sensitivity. Fluoride is also excellent for preventing tooth decay, making it a safe and effective ingredient for many people.

Most over-the- counter toothpastes contain fluoride, but if your tooth enamel is severely
compromised, you may need prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste. You can ask your
dentist about this toothpaste to help combat your sensitivity and desensitize your teeth if
regular desensitizing toothpastes aren’t helping.

Look for these ingredients when you shop for desensitizing toothpaste to help manage your tooth sensitivity. Your dentist can also talk with you about which ingredients would be most beneficial for your unique smile and may recommend specific brands. When it comes to tooth sensitivity, toothpaste can be an important tool for helping to manage pain!

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Hard Brushing

Aggressive brushing is of no benefit to your teeth. The bristles on your toothbrush as well as the tiny abrasive particles in your toothpaste do all the work for you. Your only job is to brush gently and brush well. Hard brushing can wear away enamel over time, especially if you’re doing it after consuming sugar!

Sugary Drinks

It’s well-known that sugary and acidic drinks such as sodas, sports drinks, and energy drinks are corrosive to your teeth. Yes, this group also includes alcohol! These substances create an acidic environment in the mouth, which is ideal for bacteria to breed and attack your enamel.

Acidic Foods

Acidic foods like citrus fruits, candy, and other sweets can majorly damage your enamel. Similar to sugary drinks, these acidic foods can stick to the teeth and produce acids that enable bad bacteria to grow. Over time, your enamel can get worn away from overexposure to acidic foods.

Overuse of Teeth Bleaching Products

Many people turn to OTC teeth whitening kits to perfect their smile. Unfortunately, people think that if they use more of the product more frequently, they’ll get a whiter smile. This is true—but it’ll also strip your teeth of precious enamel. For a thorough and safe teeth whitening, visiting your dentist is best!

Bruxism

Also known as teeth grinding, bruxism puts so much pressure on your teeth that it can actually wear away your enamel. Bruxism also causes inflammation in the gums and can eventually lead to tooth loss. Bruxism can cause cracks, chips, fractures, and tooth sensitivity from enamel loss.

Dry Mouth

Many medications can cause dry mouth. Dry mouth is a big enemy to your enamel—saliva acts as a buffer for our enamel, keeping bacteria from sticking around. When your mouth is dry, your oral cavity is more acidic your enamel is at risk to get harmed.

Oral Piercings

Oral piercings such as tongue, lip, or even cheek piercings can crack and chip enamel. This leaves space for bacteria to get inside, which could lead to a cavity, or even worse—a root canal. Oral piercings can also cause gum recession as they repeatedly rub against your gums.

Skipping the Floss

When you don’t floss, you’re missing a large portion of your tooth surfaces. The sides of your teeth can’t be cleaned with a toothbrush because the brush doesn’t fit in there. If bacteria are left to accumulate, they can quickly begin eating away at your enamel, causing cavities. Flossing just once a day can keep your teeth clean and your enamel safe.

Vomiting

Bile is extremely acidic—the acids in your stomach are made of hydrochloric acid. This can strip enamel and leave your teeth exposed to temperature, bacteria, and other damage. Whether you have morning sickness due to pregnancy or have acid reflux disease, rinsing your mouth with water can help.

Combating enamel damage is easy when you take great care of your teeth and eat well. By brushing gently and flossing every day, you can properly clean your teeth to protect enamel. Avoiding daily consumption of sugary foods and drinks can also help. Protecting your enamel is always worth it—keep your teeth safe for life!

The post The Long List of Things That Damage Your Enamel appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

At first glance, sports drinks might seem like a good replacement for soda, but this is one alternative you should skip. Sports drinks frequently feature high fructose corn syrup, dyes, and salt as their ingredients. The sugar content in these “healthy” drinks is virtually no different than that of conventional sodas—a can of Coca-Cola has 39 grams of sugar, while Gatorade has 34 grams. Not looking so healthy, now are they?

Grab: Seltzer Water

Seltzer water is just carbonated water, so if you love those bubbly drinks, reach for this instead of soda. Some seltzer waters come flavored with fruit juices, like lemon, lime, or even pomegranate and tangerine. Although there is some fruit flavoring in these, the content is much healthier than soda—zero grams of sugar. Seltzer water is a healthy alternative to soda, so grab!

Avoid: Juices

Juices tend to be marketed as healthier than soda, but the truth is that they compete in the sugar world just like sports drinks! Fruits are healthy, fruit juice is not—with none of the fiber to help your body digest it, the sugar in these drinks ends up spiking your blood sugar. Avoid these as much as you can, or mix with seltzer water to cut down on consumption.

Grab: Kombucha

Kombucha is a type of fermented tea that’s loaded with healthy enzymes, probiotics, and comes in great flavors with just a little fruit puree added. With supermarkets carrying many different types of kombucha these days, you should grab this healthy beverage. It’s carbonated just like soda, and your kids likely won’t miss the sugar. Give it a try!

Avoid: Energy Drinks

Energy drinks have loads of sugar and caffeine. Not only are these drinks unhealthy, they can be dangerous as they speed up heart rate. These drinks tend to be popular with teens, but you’ll want to pass these by at the store. They’re not worth the “energy” they deliver, and the sugar and acidity of these drinks is terrible for your teeth.

Grab: Tea

You’ll need to read the labels when grabbing bottled tea at your supermarket, as many of them sneak sugar in there. Buy some unsweetened tea and let your kids flavor with lemon or raspberries at home. Or, introduce your family to flavored hot teas, which can be beneficial and healthful for your body and mind. Strawberry green tea, for instance, tastes fantastic and is shown to increase concentration and memory. Who wouldn’t want that in the afternoon?

These days, you have many options when it comes to choosing alternatives for soda. Forgo the sports drinks, energy drinks, and juice in favor of seltzer water, kombucha, and tea. These positive changes can ensure healthy teeth for you and your family, not to mention healthy bodies!

The post Soda Replacements: Which to Grab and Which to Avoid appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Acids Can Erode Enamel

The acids in your stomach that get into your esophagus can end up in your mouth, and they will actually wear your enamel away over time. It basically removes layers of protection from your teeth. In addition to this, people who suffer from acid reflux tend to have dryer mouths. Lack of saliva in your mouth can contribute to a more acidic pH, therefore making an ideal environment for bacteria and plaque to grow. With the acids in your mouth, the pH balance in your mouth can become very acidic, therefore contributing to tooth decay, cavities, and eventually, erosion of your enamel.

Potential Dental Health Problems

What happens when your enamel begins to wear away? One of the first signs that your enamel may be in trouble is tooth sensitivity. The sensitivity may start out as only minor occasional pain, but it can eventually encompass all your teeth and the pain can become extreme. The loss of enamel leads to a variety of problems with your teeth and gums, tooth sensitivity merely being the beginning. You may also experience tooth decay and gum disease as a result of the bacteria in your mouth, dry mouth, and plaque formation. If your gums begin to recede, your roots may be exposed to harmful bacteria. Eventually, you could lose your teeth.

What Can You Do?

If you know you struggle with acid reflux, visiting your doctor for treatment is important. You may need to change your diet, take advantage of medication, or make other lifestyle changes. After this, visit your dentist and talk with him or her about acid reflux and how it can harm your teeth. Your dentist can perform an exam and identify any problems that may be happening in your mouth. The early stages of enamel erosion may not be so severe—such as the translucent appearance of your teeth or the minor tooth sensitivity—but eventually your symptoms will get worse. Your dentist can help you spot problems before they start, and also help you to treat any existing problems.

At home, you can limit consumption of foods and drinks that are acidic in nature, such as juices, soda, or alcohol. If you do eat acidic foods often (such as sweets or citrus fruits), try to rinse your mouth with water afterward. If you experience dry mouth, drink more water. Don’t forget to get treatment for your acid reflux—without treating the cause of your tooth damage, it will continue to happen!

Protect your teeth from the damage of acid reflux. Visit your dentist to ensure your teeth are healthy and to learn more about what you can do to protect your mouth. Treating your acid reflux disease is also an important step in preventing tooth decay and other problems that arise from stomach acids in the mouth!

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Quality Matters, Not Quantity

You can brush your teeth as many times as you want, but you may still be missing important areas in your mouth. If you never learned how to brush your teeth properly, now’s the time to start: a full two minutes of brushing is suggested. How long do you
brush for? Also, loading your toothbrush up with toothpaste and swishing it around in there won’t get you anywhere if you don’t have the proper technique. Correct brushing of the teeth involves choosing a brush with softer bristles—it doesn’t take much pressure to get the plaque off, and brushing too hard can cause more damage than benefits. Properly cleaning your teeth also involves cleaning the backs of your front teeth, where plaque can build up unknowingly if you aren’t brushing there.

What’s Your Diet Like?

Highly acidic foods like sugar, fruit juices, soda, and yes, even diet soda can damage your tooth enamel. If you don’t eat a lot of these types of foods and are packing on the veggies, great for you! If, however, you sneak in some sweets a few times a day—you may want to brush more than you think you should. Especially when consuming added sugar: when it sits on your teeth, it turns acidic and can wear down tooth enamel, eventually causing cavities and other problems. If you aren’t able to brush after
consuming sweets, at least rinse your mouth with water so that the sugar doesn’t have a chance to turn acidic on your teeth. It’s best to avoid foods with added sugar when it comes to your dental health.

You’re Still Missing That Plaque-Hardening Window

While plaque can generally form pretty quickly in your mouth—depending on certain factors such as genes, overall health, the amount of saliva in your mouth, and your diet—it still takes a bit for it to harden, usually 24-48 hours. If you’re brushing your teeth once a day and doing it correctly, as well as flossing to get those areas you can’t reach, this could be enough to keep the plaque at bay while still keeping your mouth on track with dental health. But, is it enough to keep your significant other from leaving? Bacteria in the mouth can cause bad breath, and, without brushing, can cause some unpleasant odor.

Brushing once a day is enough to keep plaque from doing damage in your mouth, but it may not be enough if you eat a lot of sweets, want to have fresh breath after coffee, and are a stickler for your overall dental health. By using proper brushing techniques, staying away from added sugars, and making sure you do brush at least once a day, you can keep you and your dentist happy with your mouth!

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