How to Prevent Tooth Enamel Erosion

If your teeth are yellow or sensitive from enamel erosion, don’t worry! You can prevent the problem from getting worse.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Background

1. Tooth enamel erosion is caused by acid. Dental erosion means you’re losing the hard protective enamel that surrounds your teeth. It’s caused by acid which can come from eating acidic food or drinking soft drinks, especially carbonated sodas and sports drinks. The acid from your own body can also cause erosion, so if you have acid reflux or you vomit too often, it can wear down your tooth enamel.^[1]
   
2. Losing the outer layer of your tooth can expose the inner layer. If you lose some or all of the enamel of a tooth from erosion, the yellowish inner layer (called dentin) can be exposed, which can change the color of the tooth. This often happens on your front teeth since they’re usually the ones more exposed to the acid, which means it may be more noticeable.^[2]
3. Erosion can make your teeth more sensitive and painful. The dentin, or the inner layer of your teeth, has a lot more nerves and is much more sensitive. If you lose part or all of the protective outer enamel because of your tooth erosion, you may experience more tooth pain, especially when they’re exposed to heat or cold.^[3]
4. About ⅓ of all adults have some tooth enamel erosion. It’s much more common than you may think. It’s also pretty common for young people to have it. Over 24% of kids and teens have some dental erosion. So, if you’re dealing with some tooth enamel erosion, you aren’t alone.^[4]

[Edit]Causes

1. Acidic food and drink are common causes. Fruit and fruit juices with lots of acid in them, such as citrus fruits like lemons and oranges, can wear down your tooth enamel, especially if you eat a lot of them. Fizzy drinks can do damage as well. Sodas and carbonated drinks (even fizzy waters) contain weak acids that can harm your teeth if you drink enough of them.^[5]
   
2. Stomach acid can also wear down enamel. If you throw up a bunch, your stomach acid can start to break down the outer layer of enamel on your teeth, causing erosion. People with conditions that cause them to vomit often, such as acid reflux, alcoholism, or an eating disorder like bulimia or anorexia, can experience tooth erosion. Additionally, people with GERD can experience erosion on their molars (your back teeth) because of the acid that can come up after a large meal or while they’re sleeping. Even pregnant women can have some tooth erosion if they throw up often.^[6]
3. Being exposed to industrial acids can cause erosion, too. Studies seem to indicate that being exposed to airborne industrial acids can break down your enamel. Folks who work in munitions, battery, or fertilizer plants are at a higher risk of being exposed to airborne industrial acids. But, even people who swim in highly chlorinated pools can experience tooth erosion.^[7]

[Edit]Symptoms

1. Darker, yellower teeth are the most common symptom. The main thing people notice if they have tooth erosion is that their teeth look yellow and dark, which is caused by the enamel being worn away. As the outer enamel erodes, the dentin layer underneath it is exposed. Dentin is naturally darker and more yellow than enamel, so when it’s exposed, the color and appearance of your teeth can change.^[8]
   
2. Your teeth can look smooth or flattened and be more sensitive. As the acid wears down your teeth, the cusps of teeth like your molars and the ends of sharper teeth like your incisors at the front can start to look flattened or blunt. The loss of protective enamel can also expose the nerves in your teeth, which makes them more sensitive to heat and cold.^[9]
3. In advanced stages, your teeth can develop hollows on them. If your teeth are super eroded from years of acid wearing on them, you can develop hollows in them. These hollows can look like divots on the surface of your teeth. You’ll also likely notice that your teeth are more yellow and sensitive.^[10]

[Edit]Treatment

1. Cut back on acidic food and drinks. You can try to stop further erosion by removing potential causes. Try to limit eating acidic fruit like oranges and lemons—including juice and lemonade! It’s also helpful to eat fruit during mealtimes, rather than as snacks, which can dilute the acid and make it less harmful. It’s also important that you cut down on carbonated drinks and sports drinks, both of which can wreak havoc on your enamel.^[11]
   
2. Treat your acid reflux or GERD with medication. If you have a reflux disease that causes heartburn, it could also be causing your tooth erosion. Talk to your doctor about treatment options and medications you can use to combat your reflux and prevent any future erosion.^[12]
3. See a therapist if you’re an alcoholic or have an eating disorder. Throwing up can cause tooth erosion, so if you’re suffering from alcoholism or you have an eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia, it could be the cause. Additionally, if you keep vomiting, you’ll only make your tooth erosion worse. You don’t have to struggle alone. Try reaching out to a psychiatrist, counselor, or therapist who can help you overcome any conditions that may also be causing your tooth erosion.^[13]
4. Use fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash to protect your enamel. Fluoride combines with your saliva to help toughen up your enamel and make it more resistant to acid. Choose a toothpaste that includes at least 1450 ppm fluoride as well as a mouthwash that contains fluoride. However, it’s important to note that you shouldn’t brush your teeth right after eating or drinking acidic foods or drinks or you could damage your enamel even more.^[14]
5. Talk to your dentist about procedures they can do to treat your erosion. There are a few therapies or procedures that your dentist can do to treat your tooth erosion and make your teeth look better. Potential options include using composites, ceramics, and metals to cover and repair your teeth. However, these procedures can be pretty invasive, so talk to your doctor about them first.^[15]

[Edit]Prognosis

1. Unfortunately, tooth enamel erosion is permanent. Once your outer enamel is worn down by acid, your body can’t replace it. So the best thing you can do is try to prevent any further erosion by changing your diet and habits that can make it worse. Take care of your teeth by brushing them regularly with fluoride toothpaste and avoid acidic food and drink.^[16]
   
2. Your dentist may be able to restore some enamel. If you have advanced erosion or you’re at risk of developing serious erosive lesions, your dentist may want to try using composites, ceramics, and metals to make special compounds that can potentially restore enamel and protect your teeth.^[17]

[Edit]Tips

• Take care of your teeth! Brush them twice a day and use a fluoride toothpaste to help protect your enamel against erosion.
• If you do drink or eat acidic food and drink, try having them at mealtime with other food so the acid doesn’t sit on your teeth can cause further erosion.

[Edit]Warnings

• Talk to your doctor before you take any medications to treat acid reflux or chronic heartburn to make sure they’re safe for you.

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/erosive-tooth-wear
2. ↑ https://www.erosivetoothwear.com/patients-2/
3. ↑ https://www.dentalhealth.org/dental-erosion
4. ↑ https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/erosive-tooth-wear
5. ↑ https://www.dentalhealth.org/dental-erosion
6. ↑ https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/erosive-tooth-wear
7. ↑ https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/erosive-tooth-wear
8. ↑ https://www.dentalhealth.org/dental-erosion
9. ↑ https://www.swissdentaljournal.org/fileadmin/upload_sso/2_Zahnaerzte/2_SDJ/SDJ_2016/SDJ_4_2016/SDJ_2016-04_research-1.pdf
10. ↑ https://www.swissdentaljournal.org/fileadmin/upload_sso/2_Zahnaerzte/2_SDJ/SDJ_2016/SDJ_4_2016/SDJ_2016-04_research-1.pdf
11. ↑ https://www.erosivetoothwear.com/patients-2/#prevention-treatment
12. ↑ https://www.swissdentaljournal.org/fileadmin/upload_sso/2_Zahnaerzte/2_SDJ/SDJ_2016/SDJ_4_2016/SDJ_2016-04_research-1.pdf
13. ↑ https://www.swissdentaljournal.org/fileadmin/upload_sso/2_Zahnaerzte/2_SDJ/SDJ_2016/SDJ_4_2016/SDJ_2016-04_research-1.pdf
14. ↑ https://www.erosivetoothwear.com/patients-2/#prevention-treatment
15. ↑ https://www.swissdentaljournal.org/fileadmin/upload_sso/2_Zahnaerzte/2_SDJ/SDJ_2016/SDJ_4_2016/SDJ_2016-04_research-1.pdf
16. ↑ https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/erosive-tooth-wear
17. ↑ https://www.swissdentaljournal.org/fileadmin/upload_sso/2_Zahnaerzte/2_SDJ/SDJ_2016/SDJ_4_2016/SDJ_2016-04_research-1.pdf