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!

The post Which Toothpastes Are Best for Tooth Sensitivity? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.