I like to think that my dentistry insights provide a good perspective on the issues affecting our oral health. In the course of writing I find that several topics continue to surface. Notable among them: acid and acid erosion. I just can’t seem to escape writing about these problems. And then I realized: acid is so prevalent in our daily lives – from an oral health perspective – we all need to be more clued up. So what’s the deal? What can we do?

The Symptoms
With acid erosion it’s important to know what to look for. Early signs include white lines around the neck of the teeth, close to the gum. There may also be a “cupping” on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Acid erosion can also be spotted by thinning edges of the front teeth, to the point where they appear glassy or translucent. This can be accompanied by occasional chipping and a shorter, more worn appearance. Sensitivity to cold or brushing can also be a symptom.

Examples A and B
For the first example of some seriously bad erosion, let’s look at Example A and Example B.
This patient chewed limes and lemons as a snack, which, over time, isn’t the easiest on tooth enamel wear and tear.

Example C
The second example of a younger patient, who had hygiene issues on top of acid erosion, is tough to look at. In Example C, the youngster mixed the dangerous combo of poor oral hygiene with a diet rich in highly acidic drinks. The results are unfortunate: unsightly cavities on the outside of the teeth that are visible in the smile. There are also extensive, but less visible lesions on the inner parts of his teeth that will cause even greater structural problems with age.

Treating Acid Erosion
Treatment for a lesion associated with acid erosion will take into account the nature of the damage, its cause, and its extent. With early monitoring there is often enough remaining enamel to which a filling can be bonded. This is the good news, low impact scenario. In more severe cases where the structure of the tooth is overly compromised, larger restorations like crowns or veneers are needed. The most extreme cases, where lesions are widespread, or on all teeth, may require treatment as comprehensive as a full mouth rehabilitation. Hover over the images to see how Example A and Example C were treated.

Example A patient was treated using crowns and Example C (who was a younger patient) was treated with composite fillings (white fillings).

Preventing Acid Erosion
I’ve said it before: diet plays an essential role in a person’s oral health. Changing your diet to avoid food and drink high in acids, and drinking water after consuming these things, are essential steps. Brushing with a high fluoride toothpaste from an early age will also help to strengthen the affected enamel and prevent acid erosion form increasing.

If you’d like to learn more about acid erosion, please get in touch. I would be happy to help you learn more about your treatment options.