Your lifetime healthy smile may be in danger. Today, more than any other time in history, you can expect that your teeth will last for a lifetime due to advances in dentistry and healthcare. But will you, your children and grandchildren still have a healthy smile at age 50, 60, 70, 80 and beyond? There's one kind of longterm damage that even the best dentistry cannot prevent. The culprit is Tooth Erosion and prevention is up to YOU.

What is tooth erosion? The World Health Organization defines dental erosion (tooth erosion) as "the progressive irreversible loss of dental hard tissue that is chemically etched away from the tooth surface." More specifically, the enamel (a calcium compound) and dentin (a slightly less mineralized compound) which make up your teeth begin to de-mineralize. Basically, your teeth gradually dissolve! Scary. This frightening little scenario can, over time, steal away the most healthy smile.

What's the cause of tooth erosion? Acid mouth. Acid is measured on a PH scale. The lower the PH, the more acidic. A neutral or non-acidic PH is great for your mouth. Your saliva, which contains proteins and phosphates, is designed to keep you mouth's PH neutral (around 6.5-7). Its bicarbonate ions neutralize--eliminate--acids in the mouth. But saliva does some additional good thing. It contains minerals, calcium and phosphate which aid in re-mineralization (the strengthing of your teeth). Saliva is your mouth's friend.

But there are a few culprits that can lower your mouth's PH below 6.0 (into "acid land"). At this point, you become victim of tooth-dissolving acid mouth.

What are the seven major causes of tooth-dissolving "acid mouth"?

1) Carbonated soft drinks. An average adolescent consumes 8.6 cans of soda in a week. The damage is increased when the soft drinks contain sugar. The excessive calories can also lead to diabetes, metabolic syndrome disorders and obesity.

2) Fruits and juices. These may contain extensive lacto, citric acid and ascorbic acid.

3) Gastric acid. Gastric reflux or gastro-esophageal reflux disorder (GERD) are the most likely reasons for gastric acid entering the mouth.

4) Eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia nervosa.

5) Medication or disease. These can cause a condition known as dry mouth-lowering the PH into the acid mouth range.

6) Additives that increase the shelf life of food. Many of these additives are based on lowering the PH of food--making it more acidic. Why? Acidity deters the growth of food-spoiling bacteria.  The additives are designed to get the PH level below 4.6--good for the shelf life, bad for your mouth!

7) Juice in children's infant bottles or drinking cups. This can lower the child's mouth pH making it more acidic.

Three ways to fight acid mouth:

1) Rinse the mouth after drinking soda and juices with water. This is the best cure.

2) Chew sugar-free gum. This will simulate your good acid-reducing saliva. Remember, your saliva also contains acid-neutralizing bicarbonate and minerals, calcium and phosphate which re-mineralize your teeth (strengthen the calcium). 

3) Consume milk and cheese. These also stimulate salivary flow.

For that matter, looking at a pickle or thinking about a pickle...now we're going a bit overboard, but you get it. Increase the flow of saliva and you reduce acid mouth and help correct its damage!

The benefits of a happy, healthy smile are immeasurable!

Sincerely,

Stephen H. Wolpo, D.D.S.