There are so many unknown factors that might cause oral pain or toothaches. Could it be dental erosion? You may be dealing with erosion-related pain and not even know it. Dental erosion shows up as discoloration of teeth, pain or sensitivity, more cavities, and even tooth loss in extreme cases. If you’re experiencing any kind of tooth discomfort, call Danville Family Dentistryas soon as possible so we can help.
What is Dental Erosion?
Dental erosion is the wear and tear of your tooth enamel. The enamel is an invisible protective barrier that covers your entire visible tooth, from top to gums. It’s so protective of your teeth that it’s actually the hardest tissues in your whole body. The most important detail to remember is that once enamel is destroyed, your body doesn’t regenerate it.
Dental erosion occurs when acids wear down your enamel, causing the tender dentin beneath to become sensitive and sometimes even painful. If you notice a sharp pain or some discomfort when eating or drinking cold or hot items, you may be dealing with some erosion.
Tackling Dental Erosion Tooth Pain
Tooth enamel takes its job very seriously, but it needs your help to remain healthy. Here are some ways you can prevent or delay dental erosion.
- Watch Your Diet
Food and drinks that contain a lot of malic, phosphoric, or citric acid can cause early enamel erosion. According to the American Dental Institution, this includes:
- Lemon juice
- Powdered fruit drinks
- Sports drinks
- Flavored tea
- Flavored water
- Apple juice
- Orange juice
- Sour candies
- Citrus fruits
- Acidic foods (tomatoes)
When you eat or drink foods that contain a lot of acids, it sits on your tooth enamel, making it temporarily softer. If the acid is allowed to stick around, it will eat away at the essential enamel.
- Chronic Dry Mouth
Because acid that sits on your teeth eats away at your enamel, it’s vital that your saliva washes it away as quickly as possible. That’s what saliva does and why it’s so important to our oral health. A dry mouth means the acid is allowed to eat away at your enamel for long periods, giving it ample opportunity to eat away right down to the vulnerable dentin.
One way to combat dry mouth is to stay hydrated every day by drinking a lot of water. Also, make sure you brush after every meal to get rid of stagnant acids. If you can’t brush after every meal, pop a piece of chewing gum in your mouth to rev your saliva glands into action to help slough off the harmful abrasives.
If you don’t often have a dry mouth, this isn’t something you need to worry about. Saliva does an excellent job washing away acid on its own.
- Frequent Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)
Do you often grind your teeth at night? Maybe your children or partner have woken you up because of the loud noises coming from your mouth. You may suffer from chronic teeth grinding, or bruxism. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body, so it can take a lot of damage before being destroyed. However, if you gnash your teeth together over and over again, every night, eventually the enamel gets damaged.
This damage also occurs if you have misaligned teeth. If your top and bottom teeth aren’t coming together correctly every time you talk, bite, or chew, certain teeth can be harmed. One way to eliminate a teeth grinding problem is through the use of the Six Month Smiles Cosmetic Braces System. Having straight teeth helps you avoid dental erosion when your top and bottom teeth come together properly.
There are some other ways you can prevent and preserve good oral health as well.
Protective Measures to Prevent Dental Erosion
One way to get ahead of any dental erosion is the use of sealants. This treatment is a safe, non-invasive way that children and adults can prevent the loss of essential enamel.
Another amazing technological advancement in dentistry is the use of fluoride treatments to strengthen teeth and reverse the damage through re-mineralizing the teeth. For children, this treatment prevents cavities. Additionally, for adults, a fluoride treatment significantly reduces tooth decay and helps desensitize exposed root surfaces. In fact, most of our patients feel that fluoride treatments are the best solution to their sensitive teeth.
If you’re facing painful toothaches because of dental erosion, we can help. Don’t live with unnecessary pain. Call us today at 317-745-4400 for a checkup and treatment plan.
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Disclaimer: The information included in this article is for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.