Tooth Erosion

Preventing Tooth Erosion

I Fact Sheet Tooth Erosion I

Tooth erosion, or tooth wear, is the loss of the surrounding tooth structure. This loss occurs when the hard part of your teeth—which is called the enamel—is worn away by acid. Over time, this erosion can leave your teeth sensitive, cracked, and discolored.

What causes tooth erosion?

Acid is the main cause of tooth erosion. So, drinking carbonated beverages, ener- gy and sports drinks, and pure fruit juice, which all contain high levels of acid, can cause tooth erosion, especially when consumed in large amounts. Certain medical conditions, including acid reflux and bulimia, also can cause tooth erosion because they cause increased levels of stomach acids in the mouth.

What are the signs and symptoms of tooth erosion?

Tooth erosion can present in a variety of ways. Below are some common signs and symptoms:

• Sensitivity—Since protective enamel is wearing away, you may feel a twinge of pain when you consume hot, cold, or sweet foods and drinks. As more enamel wears away, teeth can become increasingly sensitive.

• Discoloration—Teeth can become yellow as the dentin, the second layer of the tooth, is exposed.

• Rounded teeth—Your teeth may have a rounded or “sand-blasted” look.

• Transparency—Your front teeth may appear slightly transparent near the biting edges.

• Cracks—Small cracks and rough areas may appear at the edges of your teeth.

• Cupping—Small dents may appear on the chewing surfaces of your teeth, and fillings might appear to be rising up out of the teeth.

What can I do to prevent tooth erosion?

You can help prevent tooth erosion from occurring by taking these simple steps:

• Cut down on your consumption of carbonated beverages, sports and energy drinks, and pure fruit juice.

• Drink acidic drinks quickly and with

a straw. This helps prevent acid from coming in contact with your teeth. Also, don’t swish these liquids around or hold them in your mouth for long periods of time.

• After consuming acidic drinks, rinse your mouth with water to neutralize the acids and wait at least one hour before brushing your teeth.

• Chew sugar-free gum, which helps your mouth produce more saliva to remineralize your teeth.

• Brush with a soft toothbrush and be sure your toothpaste contains a high amount of fluoride.

• Don’t let your child consume highly acidic drinks or fruit juices in his or her sippy cup or bottle.

How can I deal with the sensitivity caused by tooth erosion?

You can reduce sensitivity by using specially formulated toothpaste or over-the-counter enamel-building products. However, always be sure to check with your general dentist before you try any new dental products.

Tooth erosion impacts everyone in different ways. Make sure you speak with your dentist about your oral hygiene and find out what else you can do to protect yourself from tooth erosion.

KnowYourTeeth.com

Brought to you by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), this website answers important dental health questions, offers the latest information on current treatments, provides tips for first-rate oral hygiene, and helps visitors find highly qualified general dentists near where they live.

KnowYourTeeth.com

以上文章，轉載自美國大眾牙醫學會（Academy of General Dentistry，簡稱 AGD）。此網站不但解答重要的牙齒保健問題，還提供有關當前牙科治療的最新信息，並給予一流的口腔衛生小提示，亦能幫助瀏覽者找尋居所附近高素質的大眾牙醫。

The AGD is a member of the Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives, a first-of-its-kind national dental coalition composed of 35 leading dental health organizations. Look for more information about the Kids’ Healthy Mouths campaign at www.2min2x.org. Published with permission by the Academy of General Dentistry.

© Copyright 2013 by the Academy of General Dentistry. All rights reserved.

牙齒酸蝕症

牙齒酸蝕症（或牙齒磨損）的意思是牙齒結構的周圍被侵蝕。當牙齒最硬的部分（即是琺瑯質）被酸磨掉，便會出現牙齒酸蝕症。隨著時間過去，這種侵蝕可以令您的牙齒變得敏感、破裂和變色。

1. 什麼原因導致牙齒酸蝕症？

酸是牙齒酸蝕症的主要原因。所以，喝碳酸飲料、能量和運動飲料或者純果汁這些含有高濃度的酸性飲料，可引起牙齒侵蝕，尤其是大量飲用的話，情況更甚。某些醫療狀況，例如胃酸倒流和貪食症，因為它們會提高在口中的胃酸水平，也可引起牙齒侵蝕。

2. 牙齒酸蝕症的症狀和特徵是什麼？

牙齒腐蝕有各種不同的形式，下面是一些常見的症狀和特徵：

• 靈敏度：由於酸性去除了琺瑯質這保護層，當你吃喝冷、熱、甜的食物或者飲料時，可能會感到疼痛刺痛。隨著越來越多的琺瑯質被磨損，牙齒會變得越來越敏感。

• 牙齒變色：當暴露了象牙質（或者牙本質，即是牙齒的第二層組織），牙齒可能變成黃色。

• 圓形齒：牙齒看起來像圓角或「噴砂」形。

• 透明度：門牙接近咬邊的位置，有可能呈稍透明。

• 裂縫：牙齒的邊緣可能會出現小裂縫和變得粗糙。

• 槽形磨損：小凹痕可能會出現在牙齒的咀嚼面，填充物可能會顯露出來。

3. 如何防止牙齒侵蝕症？

採取以下這些簡單的步驟，你可以預防牙齒腐蝕的發生：

• 減少飲用碳酸飲料、能量和運動飲料或者純果汁。

• 如喝酸性飲料，要快速飲用和使用飲管，這有助防止酸與牙齒的接觸。另外，不要嗖嗖聲在口中攪拌這些液體，或把它們長時間含在嘴裡。

• 喝完酸性飲料後，用水漱口來中和酸性，然後等待至少一個小時才刷牙。

• 可嚼無糖口香糖，幫助嘴巴產生更多的唾液，再礦化你的牙齒。

• 使用軟毛牙刷，並確保你的牙膏含有高量的氟化物。

• 不要讓你的孩子用鴨嘴杯或奶瓶來飲用高酸性飲料或果汁。

4. 該如何處理牙齒侵蝕症所造成的敏感？

通過使用特殊配方的牙膏，或非處方重建琺瑯質的產品，可以降低牙齒的敏感度。不過，在嘗試任何新的牙科產品前，請咨詢你的牙醫。

牙齒侵蝕症會以不同程度影響每一個人。請與牙醫談談你的口腔衛生情況，並找出其他可行方法保護自己的牙齒，免受侵蝕。

KnowYourTeeth.com

以上文章，轉載自美國大眾牙醫學會（Academy of General Dentistry，簡稱 AGD）。此網站不但解答重要的牙齒保健問題，還提供有關當前牙科治療的最新信息，並給予一流的口腔衛生小提示，亦能幫助瀏覽者找尋居所附近高素質的大眾牙醫。

AGD 是 the Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives 的成員，它是首個由 35 家領先牙科保健機構組成的國家牙科聯盟，獨一無二。如想尋找更多關於 the Kids’ Healthy Mouths campaign 的信息，可瀏覽 www.2min2x.org。它的出版獲 AGD 許可。

©版權所有2013年，美國大眾牙醫學會，保留所有權利。