Author (buddyclingingsmith). Submitted on Tue, 17 Jan 2012
There are an increasing amount of reports discussing the damage caused by dental erosion. These problems that result from this are not new developments. Our increased consumption of fruity drinks, soda and energy drinks has caused a great increase in the number of dental patients experiencing unfortunate results.
Minerals make up tooth enamel. Cavities are caused by a process called demineralization. Demineralization occurs when the enamel on your tooth comes into contact with sweet foods and drinks. Waste products created by bacteria as it consumes these sugars contain the acids that cause demineralization. Tooth decay could start occurring within minutes if the acid remains on your teeth.
A simple cavity left untreated over a long period of time can result in the complete destruction of the tooth structure. Provo Dental Care is unfortunately seeing an increasing number of patients with dental erosion due to their increased consumption of fruit juices, energy drinks and soda. Sugar is the main cause of dental erosion. Other causes are:
● Eating sour food or candy
● Poor oral hygiene
● Acid reflux disease (GERD) or heartburn
● Low saliva volume or dry mouth
One sign of dental erosion is if you experience sensitivity when eating hot, cold or sweet foods and drinks. Yellowing of tooth enamel indicates that it is thinning, therefore exposing the yellow dentin underneath. Dental erosion can literally destroy your smile if not properly treated. If it reaches a certain point, tooth extraction and costly dental procedures and prosthetics may be necessary.
The best defense against dental erosion is diligent oral hygiene habits and regular visits to Provo Dental Care. We are trained to detect signs of dental erosion and take the necessary steps to stop and reverse its damage to give you back a beautiful, healthy smile.
If you have questions, please visit us at www.provodentalcare.com for complete details and answers.