Acid, in it’s purest form, can melt things. You’ve seen it in sci-fi films. In a lemon, acid has a less severe effect, but most assuredly enough it still has an impact of eroding your teeth over time; especially if consumed in conjunction with other highly-acidic food choices, the effect will be one you’ll see before long. What is enamel erosion?
There are four layers that make up your physical tooth. The pulp (the innermost portion and has connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels, which nourish the tooth) is the deepest. The dentin that surrounds the pulp is hard as bone, and gives teeth their yellowish tint. The enamel (the hardest tissue in the body, covering the dentin and protecting other layers of your teeth from harmful bacteria) changes in temperature based on what you eat. And then, cementum is under the gum line, and covers the root of the pulp and connects tooth to jawbone1.
So, this enamel surface of your teeth is a protective layer. If your enamel is worn away by erosion, the underlying dentin is vulnerable to plaque, bacteria, and the whole gamut that causes decay.
What causes tooth erosion?
There are a few key culprits of tooth erosion. If you’ve been feeling sensitive to food temperatures, sweets and other foods, you can be aware of these corrosive foods (and signs of erosion) to take corrective action.
Drum roll – the biggest offender to teeth erosions is….acid! Acid comes in many forms. No matter the form, though, exposing your teeth to it will leach calcium from your enamel, therefore causing it to weaken.
This holiday season, try to avoid the following:
Signs of tooth erosion:
In order to avoid dental problems like cracks, pain and decay in your teeth, it’s key that you pay attention for the following signs of erosion:
Worst-case scenario:
You won’t have teeth. That’s the worst case.
Up until then, you can lose one tooth, two teeth, or a lot of your teeth, because over the course of time, erosion can make them weak and then crack—weak teeth can then succumb to an attack of bacteria, which could lead to either an extraction, a root canal and later a crown, implant or bridge.
Tips to prevent erosion:
A healthy diet includes moderation in all things. We’re not here to deprive our patients of the finer things in life. That said, the following tips can help reduce chances of acid erosion to your teeth:
At the end of the day it’s all about moderation. How can you possibly avoid a glass of good ol’ bubbly on New Years Eve? Or that delicious glass of red wine Grandma paid a hundred dollars for? Or your friend’s “sinful and sour” cocktail recipe? Remember our tips on how to prevent the erosion, and be sure to schedule a post-holiday check in with your dentist to ensure everything is going good! Till then, Happy Holidays from all of us here at the office of Dr. Marchbanks! via Blogger Just Skip the Sour
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Arlington Texas Dentist
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