What Does Acid Reflux do to Teeth?

When it comes to tooth sensitivity, we highly value prevention at Alta Loma Dental Care. Acid Reflux is one of the most common causes of tooth decay, and we want our patients to understand how to avoid it and what the consequences could be if they don’t.
The stomach’s hydrochloric acid is a highly corrosive substance. That’s a good thing when it’s helping to break down food, but a bad thing when it escapes into parts of the body that aren’t protected from it. Hydrochloric acid traveling up the esophagus is what causes heartburn, but when it reaches the mouth, it can cause more than just discomfort. The erosion of tooth enamel leaves nerves more exposed, which makes teeth painful whenever the patient is eating. It also makes them more vulnerable to infection and causes their grey-yellow dentin layer to show through the weakened enamel.
Patients can reduce acid reflux by changing their diet to exclude acidic foods such as citrus juice and tomatoes, as well as fatty animal products, caffeine, chocolate, and alcohol. They should also avoid eating before bed and slouching. Although lost enamel cannot be regrown, teeth can be strengthened with fluoride treatments and repaired through white fillings and partial crowns.
Alta Loma Dental Care is at 7283 Carnelian St, Alta Loma, California, 91701. To schedule an appointment, call 909-987-6268 or visit AltaLomaDentalCare.com and fill out a contact sheet.