Acid erosion is a common dental problem for kids, teenagers and adults.
Tooth enamel corrodes and often leads to further dental damage.
This problem has many internal and external causes.
Internal causes come from your stomach.
Food and drink are the main external causes of this problem.
Knowing what the causes are will help you protect your teeth from acid erosion.
Lowering your intake of acidic food and drinks is the most obvious solution.
A large number of food products and drinks we consume have high acidity levels.
Unfortunately many of these products are enjoyable to eat and drink such as sweets, snacks and fizzy drinks.
This makes it more difficult to lower our intake of this type of food and drink.
However there are ways to reduce the effect of these products.
If you don't want to stop drinking fizzy drinks altogether, only drink these drinks when you are eating a meal.
This reduces damage to your teeth.
When drinking an acidic drink swallow it quickly so that the drink does not remain in your mouth for very long.
Using a straw is another way to bypass your teeth when you consume these drinks.
Neutralise the effect on your teeth before and after you eat.
Take your time when you eat a meal.
This helps with digestion and prevents many of the internal problems that increase acidity in the stomach which eventually effect your teeth.
Taking simple precautions after eating a meal will also dramatically reduce the likely hood of acid erosion.
Eating or drinking certain foods and drinks such as cheese or milk near the end of a meal neutralises the acid generated in the stomach.
Sugar-free gum generates more saliva when you chew it.
If you chew gum after eating a meal this additional saliva dilutes the acid in the mouth and reduces further acid erosion.
Don't brush your teeth immediately after eating or drinking.
Instead, wait for an hour or so to brush your teeth so that the mineral content of you teeth can be built up again.
Avoiding acid erosion caused by your stomach.
Internal problems are just as much of a cause of acid erosion as external reasons.
However there are some simple ways to avoid this.
Poor eating habits contribute to acid erosion.
Eat your food slowly so that it digests properly.
To do this, give yourself plenty of time to eat your meals so that you're not eating in a hurry.
When you chew food, avoid putting more food in your mouth until the food you are chewing has been swallowed.
While you chew make sure food is fully chewed to aid digestion.
When you are eating a meal and feel full, stop eating.
This can be difficult especially if there is still some food left to eat on your plate.
Over-eating can lead to indigestion, heartburn and other stomach problems that ultimately lead to acid erosion.
Get professional help.
Eating disorders often result in health problems.
Acid erosion is one of these problems.
If you have a poor diet it may be necessary to get professional help because a poor diet often has the knock-on effect of acid erosion.
Visiting a dental professional will also help.
They will be able to assess your current dental situation and advise you on how to prevent further acid erosion.
The saying 'you are what you eat' is particularly true when it comes to the effect food and drink has on our teeth.
Eating properly, taking certain precautions before and after eating and seeking professional help are all effective ways to prevent this dental problem.