TOOTH EROSION IN CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS....

Research indicates that Australian children and teenagers are showing increased rates of tooth erosion.

Australian children and teenagers can expect to keep their teeth for life. The impact of tooth erosion, which is irreversible, can be a lifetime of treatment or discomfort. Therefore, preventing or at least minimising the impact of tooth erosion is paramount from an early age.

Diet is the major contributor to tooth erosion, with soft drink and fruit juice consumption consistently the most common contributor.

Soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit juices and cordials have high acid levels and play a major role in causing tooth erosion. Consumption of these drinks should be limited and children and teens should be encouraged to drink water (preferably fluoridated tap water) as much as possible.

PREVENTING AND MINIMISING TOOTH EROSION

Tooth erosion is irreversible so preventing or at least minimising the impact is highly important from an early age. The ADA’s recommendations for preventing or minimising tooth erosion include getting following habits:

• Avoid holding or ‘swishing’ drinks in the mouth as this increases acid exposure to teeth
• Use a straw as much as possible to minimise the acid exposure to teeth.
• If you drink an acidic and/or sugary beverages, don’t brush your teeth right away – brushing can remove softened tooth enamel (resulting from the acid exposure), increasing the amount of tooth loss. Wait 1hour before brushing.
• Instead of brushing, rinse with water – this will help remove any acids remaining in the mouth.
• Fluoride mouthwashes without alcohol will rinse acids away and the fluoride will re-mineralise the tooth surface making it more resistant to acid attacks.
• Chewing sugar free gum can stimulate saliva flow and rinse acids away.