Last Updated on 12th November 2018
Are your teeth starting to appear see-through? Are you experiencing sensitive teeth? You may be suffering from dental erosion, say the dentists at Evesham Dental Health Team in Worcestershire.
Dental erosion is the loss of tooth enamel caused by acid attack. When the enamel is worn away, the tooth can appear more translucent and the soft dentine underneath is exposed, which can lead to sensitivity.
If this sounds familiar, please contact our Evesham dental practice on Broadway Road. We will be happy to help and can provide preventative dental hygiene and diet advice.
What causes dental erosion?
Every time we eat or drink anything acidic, the enamel on our teeth becomes softer for a while and loses some of its mineral content. Our saliva slowly neutralises the acidity in our mouths but if acid attacks happen too often, our mouths do not have chance to restore the natural balance. This means that tiny particles of enamel can be brushed or worn away and over time we start to lose the surface of our teeth.
Erosion advice
- Avoid tooth brushing for at least one hour after drinking acidic drinks
- Limit the consumption of acidic foods and drinks to mealtimes
- Avoid acidic drinks in between meals and especially at bedtime. Milk or water are the best in between meals drinks
- Encourage young children to drink from a cup
- Avoid sipping or swishing drinks around the mouth
- Drinking through a straw may help to reduce tooth erosion
- Squashes, fruit juices and some carbonated drinks are very acidic and erosive to tooth enamel. Restrict consumption of such drinks to very occasionally or avoid them altogether
- If you eat acidic fruits, such as citrus fruits and apples, try to eat them with meals rather than between meals
- Finish a meal with cheese or milk as they will help neutralise the acid
- Chew sugar-free gum after eating to help produce more saliva
- Wait for at least an hour after eating or drinking anything acidic before brushing your teeth as this gives your teeth time to build up their mineral content again
- Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
- Check you dental mouthwash is not acidic
Acidic foods and drinks
- Fruit juices and fruit juice drinks
- Soft drinks, both carbonated and diluted squashes (including many diet drinks)
- Fruit teas and flavoured fizzy water
- Carbonated alcopops that contain acidic fruits
- Some sports drinks
- Vinegar, sauces and pickles
- Acidic sweets
