Protecting and preserving your tooth enamel is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth. Over time, tooth enamel breaks down due to impact, grinding, age, and acid erosion. Damage from acid erosion may be the easiest to prevent. To understand how you may prevent acid erosion, first you need to understand what causes acid erosion in teeth.
Did you know that your tooth enamel is the hardest tissue within the human body? It serves to protect your teeth. Unfortunately, if eroded, chipped, or damaged it is not able to repair itself like your bones do. This is why preventing acid erosion is so important. But before you make a plan to prevent acid erosion, it helps if you understand what causes acid erosion in teeth.
Over time, when your teeth encounter acids the enamel starts to wear down and erode. The signs start to show as we age, but some people experience acid erosion sooner than others. Lifestyle plays a big part as does health and environment factors. Factors that lead to premature acid erosion include:
Now that you better understand some factors that lead to acid erosion, you are better equipped to prevent unnecessary further damage.
Now that you understand what causes acid erosion in teeth, you may wonder whether your enamel has been damaged. The following symptoms may indicate acid erosion:
If you experience these symptoms please make an appointment to see your dentist for a treatment and prevention plan.
Since your tooth enamel is unable to repair itself, the only way to avoid unnecessary acid erosion is through prevention. An enamel healthy lifestyle involves good oral hygiene, regular dental care including cleanings, and avoiding unnecessary acids that wear down your enamel.
Healthy levels of saliva help protect the teeth from acid erosion. Not only does it dilute acids and help neutralize them, it also helps coat teeth with protective minerals like calcium. If you experience dry mouth, be sure to discuss it with your dentist.
In addition to maintaining a healthy balance of saliva, your diet has a large impact on the acid exposure to your teeth. Consider following these dietary guidelines:
In addition to diet, create an enamel-healthy environment in your mouth by addressing any issues that may contribute to acid erosion.
Before Acid Erosion Treatment
After Acid Erosion Treatment
Prevention is the best treatment option, so always seek to reduce your teeth’s exposure to acid. This is why it is essential to understand what causes acid erosion in teeth and how you can prevent it.
If diagnosed early, your dentist may help stop further damage by treating the root cause of acid erosion. Remineralization treatments may also help.
Your dentist may mitigate some of the damage through fillings and techniques like tooth bonding. Tooth bonding is where your dentist applies a tooth colored resin to coat damaged teeth. Sometimes veneers or caps also help repair existing damage.
In more extreme cases, the damage may be so extensive that the only option is a full mouth reconstruction or rehab.
Understanding what causes acid erosion in teeth empowers you to make lifestyle changes that protect your teeth so they last a lifetime. I addition to lifestyle factors, professional dental care is at the center of a healthy mouth and smile. It all starts with a dental examination and cleaning. If you are a Charlotte area resident who hasn’t seen a dentist this year, contact Southview Dentistry today.