nosh magazine
NUTRITION AND
DENTAL EROSION
Is your lifestyle putting your “teeth on edge?” Oral health
nutrition expert Lindy Sank explains.
he first time I heard the term “teeth
on edge” was from William Young,
a Professor of Oral Medicine. Teeth on
Edge was the title of his book about the
dental condition called “tooth erosion” and
it was here when I learned that dental
erosion can affect even the fittest and
healthiest among us, at any age and at any
stage of life.
T
Most of us would have some knowledge of
the disease called tooth decay and its
connection with our intake of dietary
sugars. But dental erosion? It’s not a disease
but, rather, a condition that can cause
significant irreversible changes to the
health of our teeth. It’s not the same as
tooth decay, but can be just as devastating.
Unfortunately, good oral hygiene will not
prevent it, and if tooth brushing is done
incorrectly or at the wrong time, it may
actually increase the risk of erosion.
What is dental erosion and
how does it affect teeth?
Dental erosion, also called “tooth-wear” or
“acid-wear”, is a condition where strong
acids dissolve away tooth enamel (the good
looking strong white part of your tooth).
As teeth erode, they become sensitive and
may darken in colour as more enamel is
lost. The edges of the teeth can also become
fragile and chip off. Later, teeth may
shorten in length, which may increase
sensitivity and make eating and drinking
even more uncomfortable.
Once lost, enamel cannot be replaced and
treatment for dental erosion is complicated
and costly, making early identification and
prevention so important.
What causes dental
erosion?
Acid is the cause of dental erosion, and
acid can come from both inside and
outside our body. Anyone who suffers from
indigestion knows that burning sensation
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of stomach acid making its upward journey
and often ending with a bitter and
unpleasant taste in the mouth. This is one
way that acid makes an unwelcome
presence to teeth.
Medical conditions such as bulimia or
heavy alcohol consumption that results in
frequent vomiting can also bring stomach
acid into the oral cavity, which essentially
puts “teeth on edge”. But for many of us, it
is the acids we eat and drink on a daily
basis that need to be considered.
How are we consuming
acid?
Acid is often the ingredient that gives food
and drink its appealing zing. Think about
those fizzy cola drinks and “sour” lollies.
Many years ago, someone even told me
that after sucking on those highly acidic
lollies for a long time, he actually burned
the soft tissue inside his mouth!
Dietary acids are found in a range of
products including pickles, vinegar,
confectionery and almost all drinks
including soft drinks, juices, colourful
cordials, energy and sports drinks, wines,
alcohol, soft drink mixers, fruit-flavoured
teas, and the list goes on. And it doesn’t
matter if the drink contains sugar or is
sugar-free because it’s the acid content that
we actually need to consider.
In processed products, food acids are
added. Some examples of these acids are
citric, tartaric, malic, phosphoric, fumaric
and lactic acids. Sometimes they are only
listed as a number on a food label (e.g.
citric is 330, tartaric acid is 334).
Acid also occurs naturally in ce