Dental erosions are the destruction of the various tooth layers by dietary or gastric acids.
Slight erosions usually go unnoticed, as the thickness of the enamel decreases.
At a more advanced stage, the enamel is destroyed and the underlying dentine is exposed. At this stage, teeth may become sensitive to hot and cold, and will generally turn a more yellow color.
If the problem continues without treatment or prevention, the nerve of the tooth may be affected, leading to more serious problems such as toothache or infection.
Scientific studies have shown that, depending on age, between 30 and 50 percent of people in Switzerland are affected by dental erosions.
Dental erosions are usually detected by the dentist or hygienist during a dental check-up or scaling.
How to avoid dental erosions?
Gastric reflux, awareness
Around a third of the population suffers from gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
These gastric refluxes often go unnoticed because they occur during sleep. Lying down encourages reflux.
If you experience symptoms such as heartburn, burning in the esophagus or acid reflux in the mouth, consult your doctor for a diagnosis of gastric reflux. The same applies to frequent vomiting.
You should also consult a dentist so that he or she can implement the appropriate measures to protect your teeth.
Control your consumption of acidic foods and beverages
These are mainly sodas, energy drinks and fruit juices, which have a very acidic pH and are harmful to your enamel.
Avoid excessive consumption, both in terms of quantity and frequency.
Although citrus fruits are healthy foods, they are acidic, and consuming large quantities can erode enamel.
Our advice
Acids demineralize and temporarily “soften” the surface layer of enamel. If you brush your teeth right away, this surface layer will be abraded to a greater extent.
After consuming an acidic food or drink, vomiting or experiencing acid reflux in the mouth, we advise you to rinse your mouth with water and wait 30 to 45 minutes before brushing your teeth.
This is the time it takes for saliva to neutralize the acid and remineralize the enamel surface.
Regular use of fluoride products, gels or mouthwashes, increases enamel mineralization and reduces the effects of acids.
Be careful, however, to use these products according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Fluorine is toxic if ingested in excess.
Treatment of dental erosions
At an early stage, it is usually sufficient to identify the precise cause of erosions with the dentist, and to remedy them by changing eating and dental hygiene habits. In cases of gastric reflux, an examination by a specialist may be indicated.Specific fluoride products for dental erosions help remineralize residual enamel.
When erosion is more severe, composite restorative treatment may be indicated to restore the aesthetics and chewing function of your teeth. (Find out more about composite treatments here).
In cases of moderate to severe erosion on the anterior tooth surfaces, dental veneers may be recommended. (Find out more about dental veneers here).
The dentists at Lausanne Smile Clinic are experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of dental erosions.
In particular, we use the latest microinvasive dentistry techniques to restore such lesions while preserving as much residual tooth material as possible.
