What are tooth erosions?

Dental erosions are destructions of the tooth surface caused by the action of acids and without the involvement of bacteria. Acids can destroy even the hardest enamel.

It is generally thought that sugar is the biggest enemy of teeth, but this is not always true. Acids can also cause irreparable damage to teeth in the long run.

In addition to the well-known dental diseases, such as caries and periodontitis, a new, hitherto little-noticed disease of the tooth surface is increasingly coming to the fore: tooth erosion.

Mild erosions often go unnoticed, as they do not cause any discomfort and are also hardly visible visually. In the advanced stage, the teeth are severely damaged, a large proportion of the enamel has been lost, the underlying dentin is exposed, the teeth appear old, discolored and are sensitive.

      

What are the causes?

The cause of tooth erosion is the acids that act on the teeth either from the outside or from the inside. The bacteria play no role in this process.

Here is a list of acidic sources:

• Fruits, soft drinks, iced tea, fruit juices, sports drinks, wine, yogurt, sour milk, cucumbers, vinegar, sauerkraut and other acidic vegetables.
• Stomach acid (in people suffering from reflux and bulimia)
• Certain medications, such as vitamin C supplements and aspirin.

The acids gradually dissolve out the minerals of the tooth substance. Lost tooth substance cannot be restored; the damage is permanent. The erosive properties of different beverages are very different. For example, apple juice, orange juice, Sprite and cola are particularly aggressive. Lemonade softens the enamel surface after an action time of only half a minute to two minutes. The decalcification process extends over a more or less long time. Several factors influence the speed:

• Frequency of acid supply: If acids are consumed only during meals, the damage will progress less rapidly than if acidic beverages and foods are consumed repeatedly throughout the day.
• Destructiveness of acid: Light or strong acid. Anything with a pH below 7 is acidic. The lower the pH, the more destructive it is.
• Duration in the mouth
• Amount of saliva produced: The more saliva produced, the faster the acids are washed away.
• Buffer capacity of saliva: Saliva contains bicarbonate, which can neutralize acids. However, the concentration of bicarbonate in saliva is not the same for everyone.

How can erosions be prevented?

What has been lost cannot be repaired, but there are ways to counteract tooth erosion.

1. Pay attention to a healthy and balanced diet. One can continue to consume fruit juices, fruits and acidic foods, but it is important to pay attention to frequency and daily distribution. If possible, one should reduce the consumption of acids to the main meals. Consume a large amount of fruit once a day rather than spreading the same amount in many small portions throughout the day.
2. When acidic foods are consumed, try to neutralize the acids as quickly as possible by rinsing the mouth with water, drinking some milk or eating cheese.
3. When out and about, eating tooth-friendly or acid-neutralizing gum or candy is recommended because it stimulates saliva flow and raises pH levels faster. Tooth-friendly chewing gums and bombs are marked with the "tooth man". They do not cause caries and erosion.
4. After eating acidic foods, wait at least half an hour, preferably 45 minutes, before brushing your teeth to give the enamel a chance to re-stabilize.
5. Rinse your mouth with water or a fluoride-containing rinse solution after eating acidic foods. SNOW SHINE Whitening Foam from SNOW PEARL can be the perfect on-the-go solution here, as you can use it just like regular toothpaste. It is also perfect for rinsing the mouth, neutralizing acids and remineralizing teeth, as it contains fluoride and nanoparticles of hidroxyapatite (the building block of enamel).
6. Be sure to use a soft toothbrush when brushing your teeth so as not to cause additional damage to the already softened tooth surface. Travel toothbrushes and the Ultra Soft sonic toothbrush from SNOW PEARL are particularly suitable for this purpose, because they are ultra soft and yet have very sturdy bristles.
7. Use a fluoride toothpaste with weak or medium abrasiveness. The PEARL SHIELD gel toothpaste from SNOW PEARL is the perfect aid, especially for the last daily cleaning in the evening: its novel formulation allows the fluoride to adhere to the teeth for over 12 hours. This enhances the remineralizing effect and significantly reduces tooth sensitivity.
8. Do not do without fluoride-containing products, as fluoride increases the resistance of tooth enamel to acids 10-fold.