Three Things To Do To Combat Dental Erosion

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A new report published in the Journal of General Dentistry says that there are three steps to rehabilitating teeth that are suffering from dental erosion due to the high acidic content of beverages like sodas, citric juices or certain tea.

Dr. Mohamed A. Bassiouny, lead author of the report, instructs those experiencing tooth erosion to first, identify the culprit source of erosion, possibly with the help of a dental professional. Second, the individual should determine and understand how this source affects the teeth, in order to implement measures to control and prevent further damage. Third, the person should stop or reduce consumption of the suspected food or beverage to the absolute minimum. Finally, it is also recommended to seek professional dental advice in order to possibly restore the damaged tissues.

Dental erosion is a demineralisation process that affects hard dental tissues (such as enamel and dentin). This process causes tooth structure to wear away due to the effects that acid has on teeth, which eventually leads to their breakdown. It can be triggered by consumption of carbonated beverages or citric juices with a low potential of hydrogen (pH), which measures the acidity of a substance.

Excessive consumption of the acidic beverages over a prolonged period of time may pose a risk factor for dental health.Some may not even realize a problem exists when their teeth are in the early stages of dental erosion. Without proper diagnosis by a general dentist, more serious oral health issues could occur, says Kenton Ross, DDS, FAGD, a spokesperson for the AGD. Visiting your general dentists twice a year can help maintain healthy teeth as well as uncover and prevent future problems, adds Dr. Bassiouny.