Saint Louis Dentist Reviews Symptoms of and Treatments for Acid Erosion
Throughout the day, your teeth are bombarded with substances that threaten to weaken your smile’s health and longevity. Among common patient concerns, acid erosion is a growing problem for many adult patients, and unfortunately it often goes undiagnosed. There are ways to keep your smile strong for years to come, however. Our Saint Louis dentists work to keep our patients informed about preventative dental treatment, so that our patients can take control of their smiles and maintain healthy teeth at home.
Acid erosion can be difficult for patients to diagnose themselves, because this condition can progress asymptomatically for months or years. As acid erosion slowly wears away dental enamel, you may not notice any drastic dental changes right away, but over time the effects of acid erosion compound to create serious problems.
What is acid erosion?
Acid erosion is caused by acidic substances. Over time, these substances demineralize dental enamel, making it weaker and soft. Enamel affected by dental erosion is susceptible to dental decay and damage. The goal for patients with acid erosion, therefore is to minimize demineralization, and maintain healthy and strong enamel.
What kinds of foods cause acid erosion?
During the day your teeth are naturally demineralized to a certain extent as acidic substances coat your teeth. The teeth are then remineralized by saliva and daily oral hygiene treatments. Patients with acid erosion either consume a large number of acidic substances, or are not able to effectively remineralize dental enamel through natural saliva.
There are certain foods that are more acidic on your teeth than others. Fruits and fruit juices can weaken teeth over time. Additionally, beverages such as soft drinks and wine can demineralize teeth.
What can I do to stay healthy?
The number one thing you can do to maintain healthy enamel is to see your dentist semi-annually for professional cleanings. Because dental erosion can be difficult for the patient to detect, it’s important for a professional dentist to evaluate your teeth regularly.
You can also include a few preventative measures into your daily oral hygiene routine at home.
- Drink acidic beverages through a straw to prevent coating your teeth in acidic liquid.
- Rinse your teeth with water after eating or drinking.
These simple steps can go a long way toward helping your keep your smile strong and healthy. Give our Saint Louis dental office a call to learn more about acid erosion or schedule an appointment!