Acid erosion

Acid erosion
Classification and external resources
ICD-10	K03.2
MeSH	D014077

Acid erosion, also known as dental erosion, is the irreversible loss of tooth structure due to chemical dissolution by acids not of bacterial origin. Dental erosion is the most common chronic disease of children ages 5–17,^[1] although it is only relatively recently that it has been recognised as a dental health problem.^[2] There is generally widespread ignorance of the damaging effects of acid erosion; this is particularly the case with erosion due to fruit juices, because they tend to be seen as healthy.^[3][4] Erosion is found initially in the enamel and, if unchecked, may proceed to the underlying dentin.

Frequently consumed foods and drinks below pH 5.0–5.7 may intitiate dental erosion.

The most common cause of erosion is by acidic foods and drinks. In general, foods and drinks with a pH below 5.0–5.7 have been known to trigger dental erosion effects.^[5] Numerous clinical and laboratory reports link erosion to excessive consumption of drinks. Those thought to pose a risk are soft drinks and fruit drinks, fruit juices such as orange juice (which contain citric acid) and carbonated drinks such as colas (in which the carbonic acid is not the cause of erosion, but citric and phosphoric acid). Additionally, wine has been shown to erode teeth, with the pH of wine as low as 3.0–3.8.^[5] Other possible sources of erosive acids are from exposure to chlorinated swimming pool water, and regurgitation of gastric acids.

Causes

Extrinsic acidic sources

Acidic drinks and foods lower the pH level of the mouth so consuming them causes the teeth to demineralise. Drinks low in pH levels that cause dental erosion include fruit juices, sports drinks, and carbonated drinks. Orange and apple juices are common culprits among fruit juices. Carbonated drinks such as colas, lemonades are also very acidic, as are fruit-flavoured drinks and dilutables. Frequency rather than total intake of acidic juices is seen as the greater factor in dental erosion; infants using feeding bottles containing fruit juices (especially when used as a comforter) are therefore at greater risk of acid erosion.^[6]

Saliva acts as a buffer, regulating the pH when acidic drinks are ingested. Drinks vary in their resistance to the buffering effect of saliva. Studies show that fruit juices are the most resistant to saliva's buffering effect, followed by, in order: fruit-based carbonated drinks and flavoured mineral waters, non-fruit-based carbonated drinks, sparkling mineral waters; Mineral water being the least resistant. Because of this, fruit juices in particular, may prolong the drop in pH levels.^[7]

A number of medications such as vitamin C, aspirin and some iron preparations are acidic and may contribute towards acid erosion.^[6]

Intrinsic acidic sources

Dental erosion can occur by non-extrinsic factors too. Intrinsic dental erosion is known as perimolysis, whereby gastric acid from the stomach comes into contact with the teeth.^[8] People with diseases such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease often suffer from this. GERD is quite common and an average of 7% of adults experience reflux daily.^[8] The main cause of GERD is increased acid production by the stomach.^[8]

Behaviour

Acid erosion often coexists with abrasion and attrition.^[6] Abrasion is most often caused by brushing teeth too hard.^[2]

Throthing or swishing acidic drinks around the mouth increases the risk of acid erosion.^[6]

Signs

There are many signs of dental erosion, including changes in appearance and sensitivity. One of the physical changes can be the color of teeth. There are two different colors teeth may turn if dental erosion is occurring, the first being a change of color that usually happens on the cutting edge of the central incisors. This causes the cutting edge of the tooth to become transparent.^[9] A second sign is if the tooth has a yellowish tint. This occurs because the white enamel has eroded away to reveal the yellowish dentin.^[9] A change in shape of the teeth is also a sign of dental erosion. Teeth will begin to appear with a broad rounded concavity, and the gaps between teeth will become larger. There can be evidence of wear on surfaces of teeth not expected to be in contact with one another.^[9] If dental erosion occurs in children, a loss of enamel surface characteristics can occur. Amalgam restorations in the mouth may be clean and non-tarnished. Fillings may also appear to be rising out of the tooth, the appearance being caused when the tooth is eroded away leaving only the filling. The teeth may form divots on the chewing surfaces when dental erosion is occurring. This mainly happens on the first, second, and third molars. One of the most severe signs of dental erosion is cracking^[10], where teeth begin to crack off and become coarse.^[9] Other signs include pain when eating hot, cold, or sweet foods. This pain is due to the enamel having been eroded away, exposing the sensitive dentin.^[11]

Prevention and management

Preventive and management strategies include the following:^[12]

• Treating the underlying medical disorder or disease.
• Modifying the pH of the food or beverage contributing to the problem, or changing lifestyle to avoid the food or beverage.
• Decrease abrasive forces. Use a soft bristled toothbrush and brush gently. No brushing immediately after consuming acidic food and drink as teeth will be softened. Leave at least half an hour of time space. Rinsing with water is better than brushing after consuming acidic foods and drinks.^[8][6]
• Drinking through a straw^[13]
• Using a remineralizing agent, such as sodium fluoride solution in the form of a fluoride mouthrinse, tablet, or lozenge, immediately before brushing teeth.
• Applying fluoride gels or varnishes to the teeth.
• Drinking milk or using other dairy products.
• Using a neutralizing agent such as antacid tablets.
• Dentine bonding agents applied to areas of exposed dentin^[6]

See also

• Abrasion
• Abfraction
• Attrition
• Bruxism

External links

• Saliva and Tooth Dissolution

Further reading

• Adrian Lussi. Dental Erosion: From Diagnosis to Therapy. Karger Publishers, 2006. (ISBN 9783805580977)

References

1. ^ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (8 August 2007). Preventing Chronic Diseases: Investing Wisely in Health. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Dugmore, C.R; Rock W.P (13 march, 2004). "A multifactorial analysis of factors associated with dental erosion" (PDF). British Dental Journal 196 (5): 283–6;discussion: 273. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.4811041. PMID 15017418. http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v196/n5/pdf/4811041a.pdf. Retrieved 2009-05-21. 
3. ^ Beezy Marsh. "Fruit juice can cause tooth decay". Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-63579/Fruit-juice-cause-tooth-decay.html. Retrieved 2009-05-21. 
4. ^ "'Health juices' harm baby teeth". BBC News Online. Thursday, 2 August 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6928131.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-21. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Mandel, Louis. "Dental erosion due to wine consumption". American Dental Association. http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content/full/136/1/71. Retrieved 2008-01-03. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d e f} O'Sullivan, E.; Milosevic A. (November 2008). "UK National Clinical Guidelines in Paediatric Dentistry: diagnosis, prevention and management of dental erosion" (PDF). International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 18 (Supplement 1): 29–28. doi:10.1111/j.1365-263X.2008.00936.x. PMID 18808545. http://bspd.co.uk/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=eUNCYOrvc0U%3d&tabid=62. Retrieved 2009-05-21. 
7. ^ Edwards, M.; Creanor S.L. ;Foye R.H. ; Gilmour W.H. (December 1999). "Buffering capacities of soft drinks: the potential influence on dental erosion". Journal of Oral Rehabilitation 26 (12): 923–927. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2842.1999.00494.x. PMID 10620154. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119074854/abstract. Retrieved 2009-05-21. 
8. ^ ^{a b c d} Gandara, B.K; E.L Truelove (October 1999). "Diagnosis and management of dental erosion". Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice 1 (1): 16–23. PMID 12167897. http://www.thejcdp.com/journal/view/diagnosis-and-management-of-dental-erosion. Retrieved 2009-05-21. 
9. ^ ^{a b c d} Acid Attack.. Academy of General Dentistry.. 6 February 2008. http://google.com/search?q=cache:YJ69EnrlwcUJ:www.agd.org/public/OralHealthFacts/files/pdfgenerator.aspx%3Fpdf%3DFS_ToothErosion.pdf+teeth+erosion&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us. Retrieved 2008-03-09. 
10. ^ Dental Health: Tooth Sensitivity. WebMD. http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/tooth-sensitivity?page=2. Retrieved 2008-03-09. 
11. ^ Davenport, Tammy (14 September 2007). "Signs and Symptoms of Tooth Erosion.". About.com. http://dentistry.about.com/od/toothmouthconditions/a/teetherosionsym.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-09. 
12. ^ Amaechi BT, Higham SM (2005). "Dental erosion: possible approaches to prevention and control". J Dent 33 (3): 243–52. doi:10.1016/j.jdent.2004.10.014. PMID 15725524. 
13. ^ Edwards, M.; R A Ashwood, S J Littlewood, L M Brocklebank & D E Fung (12 September 1998). "A videofluoroscopic comparison of straw and cup drinking: the potential influence on dental erosion". British Dental Journal 185 (5): 244–249. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.4809782. PMID 9785633. http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v185/n5/full/4809782a.html. Retrieved 2009-05-21.