The Truth About Acid Reflux and Your Teeth From our Dental Office

In our dental office, we help patients that suffer from acid reflux disease and are dealing with tooth erosion as a result.  Reflux-induced erosion is a common problem that can impact both children and adults.  As acid travels up through the esophagus, it enters the mouth and can start to attack the teeth.  The acid will start to wear away the teeth one layer at a time until they become thin and brittle. 

According to a report by the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project between twenty and thirty percent of U.S. adults, experience the symptoms of acid reflux or GERD on a weekly basis.  A full sixty percent of the population has these symptoms at least yearly.  This manifests as a burning sensation in the chest and throat as acid works its way backwards and up the esophagus. This proves problematic for many people, making it difficult to eat and sleep along with interfering with their concentration at work. Acid reflux also creates health problems in the stomach, esophagus and throat in addition to impacting the teeth. 

In our dental office, we want to know if our patients have acid reflux so that we can help to prevent erosion in addition to treating it.  By keeping teeth healthy and clean, they will remain stronger.  For example, people that have cavities or gum disease will naturally be more susceptible to getting cavities and suffering other dental health issues. While cleaning teeth, we can remove bacteria from the teeth and gum lines so that they can remain healthy and cavity free.  We can also provide a fluoride treatment for teeth that need strengthening and are at risk for erosion. These preventative steps aid in keeping the mouth healthy.

If the erosion does occur, it will first attack the enamel and cause it to wear away.  As it does, the dentin underneath will become exposed which leads to sensitive teeth.  When food touches the dentin it is simultaneously touching the nerve endings inside of it.  This can lead to the pain signal being transferred to the brain, leading to an increase in sensitivity that many patients complain of.  In this early stage, we can help by completing a bonding procedure to seal the dentin.  This works well in the beginning stages but as erosion becomes more advanced; the teeth will become weak, thin and brittle.  At this point, the best way to protect the teeth is to place a crown around them.  A crown is a cap that surrounds the tooth and prevents anything from touching it.  This procedure allows us to save a tooth that may have otherwise been pulled due to erosion. 

In our dental office, we also recommend that patients take medication to control their acid reflux.  By seeing your doctor, you can get a prescription that will help you to feel better and to protect your teeth.  If an attack does occur, you should avoid brushing your teeth for an hour, but be sure to rinse your mouth in order to neutralize some of the acid. 

Solutions From Our Dental Office for Avoiding Sugar This Halloween and Throughout the Year

In our local dental office, we speak with patients all of the time about the importance of avoiding sugar. Eating sugary foods or drinks is not good for you in any quantity.  The more sugar that you intake, the higher your risk becomes of getting cavities.  When sugar sits on your teeth, it can create an acid that starts to attack them.  This can weaken your teeth and lead to cavities.  The problem only worsens this time of the year with the arrival of Halloween and the official holiday season.  With so many treats to choose from it can be difficult to avoid sugar.

The key is to remember that everything you eat and drink plays a direct role in your overall health and how you feel.  If you eat a lot of sugar, you may start to crash and feel sluggish in addition to putting your teeth at risk.  If, however, you eat a healthy and balanced diet, you will have sustained energy, and your teeth will be healthier.

In our dental office, we have come up with several tips you can try for avoiding sugar and to start being healthier overall.  Here is what you can try at home:

• Drink lots of water.  If you stay hydrated, you will feel fuller and be less tempted to overeat or reach for a candy bar.  This is a good weight loss tip but also good for your teeth.  Your body needs to produce saliva in order for your teeth and gums to stay healthy.  If you drink plenty of water, it will.  Otherwise, you can get dry mouth and your risk of cavities and bad breath will increase. 
• Eat a balanced meal.  When you eat a meal that contains complex carbs, lean protein and veggies, you will have sustained energy throughout the day.  By feeling energized, you can accomplish more and won’t feel like you are having an afternoon crash.  This will prevent the urge to reach for quick energy in the form of a candy bar.  Eating meals with healthy ingredients is also good for remineralizing and strengthening your teeth so eat them every day. 
• Reward yourself.  If you are tempted to pig out on Halloween candy or eat an entire pie on Thanksgiving, be honest with yourself.  It is okay if sweets are your temptation, but make sure that you can avoid overindulging by offering yourself a reward.  For example, if you skip trick-or-treating and avoid sweets for a month, buy yourself a new purse or game you have been wanting.  Incentivize yourself to make healthy choices. 
• Avoid the situation.  Just because you were invited to a holiday party, doesn’t mean that you have to go.  Spend time one on one with the host instead.  This way you can see your friend but don’t have to be surrounded by sugary treats in order to do so.

As a general dentist, we recommend that you take these simple steps to avoid sugar on Halloween and throughout the year.  Keeping sugar off of your teeth is one more way to fight cavities and gum disease.