🦷 Tooth Erosion: What You Need to Know

What Is Tooth Erosion Exactly? 🤔

You brush, you floss, you avoid sugar… but your teeth still are sensitive or become dull. Why?

It does not necessarily have to be cavities. The cause can be tooth erosion which is a condition during which your enamel is invisibly and slowly being harmed by the acidic content in your mouth over a certain period. Acid, not bacteria, is responsible for the loss of enamel as a result of tooth erosion. In such a case, the enamel is no longer replenished. 😱

Therefore, it is of utmost importance to identify the reasons, be aware of the signs, and initiate the process with Lema Dental Clinic in Istanbul, Turkey, if needed.

🎯 Causes of Tooth Erosion

Let’s dig deeper and find out why enamel is being eroded. These are the most common causes:

1. 🍋 Acidic Foods & Drinks

Examples include soda, fruit juice, sports drinks, citrus fruits. Their high acid level leads to softening of enamel and its gradual dissolution. Lifehack: The use of a straw while drinking can create a barrier between the teeth and the liquid.

2. 🤮 Acid Reflux or Vomiting

Such a condition is the result of stomach acid being introduced to the oral cavity on a regular basis (e.g., GERD, eating disorders, or frequent vomiting), thereby causing erosive damage especially on the teeth at the back of the mouth.

3. 😬 Overbrushing

Scrubbing decisively or pushing a brush with hard bristles into the teeth can slowly thin out enamel, especially if the teeth become the immediate target of such a practice soon after consuming acidic foodstuffs.

Recall: Moderate intensity and overall cleanliness are surefire winners. ✅

4. 🧬 Dry Mouth

It is known that saliva. When saliva helps to balance the pH level of the mouth it is, in other words, it neutralizes the acids present in the mouth. At the same time, in the case of the dry mouth (medicines, dehydration, or breathing through the mouth are some of the common causes), acids have being more harmful to the teeth.

5. 🥤 Constant Snacking or Sipping

Every time you eat or drink sweet or acidic things, pH levels in your mouth fall, and your enamel is under a 30 to 60-minute chemical attack of acid. Drinking soda throughout the day is equal to continuous erosion of the enamel layer. 😬

🛑 Signs of Tooth Erosion

Tooth erosion is quite often, if not always, hard to notice. In fact, it can be barely noticeable. However, there are quite a few signs that you may be doing something wrong:

• Teeth that start to react to temperature changes much more (and faster) than they used to before
• Your teeth are turning yellow in color, showing the dentin underneath
• The edges of the front teeth become rounded or flattened
• The tips of your upper front teeth are translucent
• The chewing area of your back teeth has marks that look like small cups or holes
• Having developed cracks and/or chips that were unexplained

If for some reason you realize that you have one or more of those symptoms, it will mean that it is high time to visit a dentist. 🧑‍⚕️

🧠 What’s the Difference Between Tooth Erosion and Cavities?

That is a great question!

Good question!

Sometimes erosion and decay occur together, especially if oral hygiene is poor.

💡 How to Prevent Tooth Erosion

The good news is: it is more than possible to stop or at least slow down the process of enamel errosion – as long as you catch it in its earliest stages.

These are the ways of keeping your teeth healthy:

✅ 1. Watch Your Diet

• Limit acidic foods and drinks
• Rinse your mouth with water after eating citrus or soda
• Use a straw when drinking acidic drinks
• Brushing right after having acidic meals can wait up to 30 minutes

✅ 2. Brush the Right Way

• Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles
• The right way to do it is by gently brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day
• Preferably, use toothpaste with fluoride to harden your teeth enamel

✅ 3. Stay Hydrated

Water increases saliva, which, in turn, is your natural acid defender in the mouth. 💧

✅ 4. Use a Fluoride Mouthwash

Fluoride can help with the re-mineralization of the enamel and keeping the teeth in good condition. Look for products that have been tested and accepted by qualified dental officials.

✅ 5. Visit Your Dentist Regularly

No one but your dentist can see early negative signs better than you. The sooner you see your dentist, the less the damage will be and more treatment choices you will have.

🏥 How Lema Dental Clinic in Istanbul Can Help

Lema Dental Clinic has a range of modern, aesthetically pleasing and durable treatments designed just for you (the patient). Lema Dental Clinic will provide assistance in the following forms:

✔️ Digital Smile Analysis

Lema’s group of specialists uses 3D imaging and intraoral scans to examine enamel loss, tooth structure, and occlusion (the way teeth are arranged in the mouth).

✔️ Fluoride Treatments

Strong fluoride can speed up the process of restoring acid-eroded enamel.

✔️ Tooth-Colored Fillings or Bonding

Composite bonding can be used as a treatment to rebuild worn-away areas by adding material that is the same color as the natural tooth and at the same time protecting the tooth from further damage.

Veneers or Crowns

By using either porcelain veneers or zirconium crowns we can deal with the problem of advanced erosion and restore to the smile the power and beauty it has lost.

✔️ Bite Adjustment & Night Guards

If erosion is due to bruxism, a tailor-made night guard is the best option to protect your restorations and at the same time avoid the further damage caused by clenching and grinding.

🌟 Why Choose Lema?

Patient’s from different parts of the globe visit Lema Dental Clinic in Istanbul for the following:

• High-level smile aesthetics
• Gentle, conservative treatment plans
• High-quality
• materials such as
• Multilingual support & VIP service

Affordable prices compared to the US, UK, and Europe. From a simple enamel support to a full smile makeover, Lema experts will be there for you throughout the whole process. Lema experts will navigate you either with a simple enamel support or a smile makeover.