Erosion of Tooth Enamel

Serving Northern Virginia including Oakton, Fairfax, Reston, Alexandria, Arlington and Washington D.C.

Enamel is the outer shell that covers the teeth and is the hardest tissue in the human body. Enamel protects the teeth as we go through a daily existence of chewing, biting, grinding, and more. It keeps the teeth from being damaged by temperature extremes or chemicals. However, even though it is extremely hard and resilient, it can still crack or chip. When this happens, the damage is done for good since there are no living cells in enamel. Therefore, the body cannot repair damaged enamel.

Visiting Dr. Chung regularly will remove stains and keep your teeth healthy, you also need to think about what causes enamel to erode in those months you are not seeing the dentist.

Causes of Erosion of Enamel

Erosion is typically the result of acid eating away or wearing down the enamel. Causes of this include:

Excessive consumption of soft drinks and fruit drinks
Diet high in starches and sugar
Low salivary flow or dry mouth
Acid reflux disease (GERD) and other gastrointestinal problems
Genetics
Medications like aspirin and antihistamines

Environmental factors such as friction, corrosion, and daily wear and tear can also cause erosion of tooth enamel. So even if you eat right, avoid sugars, don’t regularly take medication, and are generally in good health, erosion of tooth enamel is still going to happen.

Plaque, which forms between the teeth, inside the pits of the molars, and around fillings and at the base of the tooth and gum meets may also cause erosion. This is because the bacteria in plaque will sometimes change food starch into acid. The acid then begins to break down enamel within hours. Over time the pits created in the enamel grow in size.

Symptoms of Tooth Erosion

Signs the enamel on your teeth is eroding include:

Cracks and chips – edges of the teeth become more jagged or irregular
Cupping – indentations begin to appear on the surface of the teeth
Discoloration – teeth may appear yellow as more dentin is exposed
Rounded – the teeth appear smooth and shiny in spots
Sensitivity – eating sweets or foods that are very hot or cold in temperature may be painful. If the pain is severe, the enamel may be completely eroded

There are several things you can do to prevent erosion of your enamel beyond daily brushing and flossing. This includes:

Eliminate foods and beverages high in acid from your diet, including soda, juices and citrus fruits. Immediately rinse your mouth with water after eating or drinking products like this
Avoid snacking throughout the day. The mouth is acidic for several hours after eating foods high in starches and acids, so it’s best to avoid snacks or brush your teeth as soon as you can
Drink more water throughout the day to increase the volume of saliva and prevent dry mouth
Chew sugar-free gum between eating meals. Saliva production is boosted, which helps strengthen the teeth and reduces the presence of acid found in food and drinks. Choose gum with xylitol

You should also speak to Dr. Chung about daily fluoride treatments or sealants. There are other treatments and procedures he can perform that can keep your enamel from eroding.

If you are interested in stopping the erosion of tooth enamel, please contact Dr. Chung at Softouch Dental Care. Softouch Dental Care serves Oakton, Tyson’s Corner, Reston, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia areas.