AUGUST, 2018 | The HEALTH |
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issue: oral health 13 |
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which has the nerve and the blood vessels. Initial wear would affect the enamel. But with time, when it penetrates the dentine, it causes sensitivity.”
• Attrition is tooth loss which occurs when a person constantly grinds the teeth as a habitual practice.
• Tooth erosion caused by acidic substance such as acidic drinks and foods such as pickles and lemons— anything that is sour where the PH is lower than seven— lollies and even sweets.
While aerated drinks are considered as acidic, energy drinks are also common culprits that contribute to erosion.
“ It may occur to anyone, but can commonly be seen among teenagers because these are the group that always consume acidic drinks.”
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She further explained that tooth erosion can also be linked to not only food, but to two other causes; extrinsic and intrinsic.
“ Extrinsic is when you eat or drink acidic food or drinks while intrinsic is from your body such as the reflux, where there are acidic elements that comes out into the mouth. This is very erosive and can result in tooth wear.”
Usually the diagnostic depends on which stage the tooth wear has occurred. In early stages, applying fluoride for the tooth to mineralise and the progression to be stopped may be advised but at a later stage when the teeth appears to be visibly shortened and small due to the wear that has happened for several years, a restoration and a filling of the tooth might be necessary.
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Dr Azwatee Abdul Aziz. |
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“ Extrinsic is when you eat or drink acidic food or drinks while intrinsic is from your body such as the reflux, where there are acidic elements that comes out into the mouth. This is very erosive and can result in tooth wear.” |
Tooth erosion caused by acidic food
TOOTH erosion has been linked to malabsorption issues in the small intestine, which could prevent teeth from getting the nutrients needed for proper development and lead to erosion.
University of Malaya Faculty of Dentistry Department of Restorative Dentistry senior dental lecturer Dr Maria Angela G. Gonzalez( pic) pointed out that as we age, there are different sources of the problem, such as in young persons who are bulimic and anorexic who may suffer from gastric juices that come out or gastroesophageal reflux disease( GERD).”
She, however, was fast to explain that very few young people have GERD as it is related of a person’ s diet.
“ In young persons, usually the gingival line covers the root of the tooth which is usually made up of a thin layer of cementum.
When the root is exposed, that cementum is actually removed and exposes the dentine. Dentine is a lot softer than the enamel, so when you have an erosive environment, then your dentine is the one that is actually dissolved faster.”
“ Each individual, has a general average of pH at which a tooth gets dissolved. For enamel, it is a Ph of 5.5 on the average which depends whether the tooth has a lot of fluoride, whereas for dentine it is a pH of 6.8. So, dentine, dissolves a lot faster than enamel.”
“ When you’ re younger, the gingival tissue is nearer the enamel region. However, as we grow older, we have gingival recession.”
“ Adults who have receding periodontium are at risk of the gum receding. This may be different for an intact
tooth where a person wouldn’ t feel anything, but when dentine is exposed, it becomes very sensitive for patients.”
“ There is also inter-action where, for example, a person likes acidic food which may cause the tooth itself to soften. Brushing and in a wrong technique may cause the person to suffer erosion as well as abrasion.”
Are flavoured toothpaste harmful to children?
FLAVOURED toothpaste for young children are regularly available in stores and is developed to encourage younger ones good oral hygiene. However, as parents we may be concerned if the toothpaste itself pose a danger and be a cause for erosion.
University of Malaya Faculty of Dentistry Department of Restorative Dentistry senior dental lecturer Dr Maria Angela G. Gonzalez cleared the doubt by ensuring that it is not a problem.
“ Toothpaste is supposed to be a cleaning agent. However, it becomes a concern when the child does not spit the fluoride out and starts swallowing instead.”
“ This habit may cause fluorosis- a cosmetic condition that affects the teeth, caused by overexposure to fluoride during the first eight years of life.”
“ This may result in the teeth becoming white and mild, and in severe cases, look brownish due to staining of the teeth.”
“ Nevertheless, toothpaste does not cause erosion, as the product itself is non-acidic. However, the sugar incorporated in the product may cause caries,” she said.