Acid Reflux: How Your Dentist Can Help You Control Effects on Your Oral Health
Most people have experienced a bit of heartburn at some
point. For some, though, heartburn occurs more than just occasionally—how about
more like two or three times a week? Does that sound familiar?
When heartburn occurs so commonly, that’s a sign of a
condition called acid reflux disease. Other symptoms of acid reflux disease
include:
·
Regurgitation
·
Bloating or burping
·
Narrowing of the esophagus
·
Hiccups
·
Nausea
·
Black/bloody stools or bloody vomiting
·
Weight loss
·
Wheezing, hoarseness, sore throat, or dry cough
But did you know acid reflux disease can also have an effect
on your oral health? That’s because of how acid reflux works.
When a patient experiences acid reflux, acid from the
stomach ends up in the esophagus. If this acid comes into contact with a
patient’s teeth, it can begin to dissolve the protective layer of enamel on the
outside them. This becomes a bigger problem as the sensitive layer of dentin
underneath is exposed.
Signs that acid may have damaged your teeth include:
·
Sensitivity, especially to foods that are hot,
cold, or sweet
·
Teeth that have thinned or shortened
·
Pain or irritation
·
Teeth with sharp edges
If you’ve experienced any of these, call Dr. Wade’s Frisco
dental office. She offers effective general
and restorative options to treat teeth harmed by acid. Patients who know
they have a problem with acid reflux can use antacids and other
over-the-counter medicines to treat symptoms and control acid.
Call us today
for an appointment. Dr. Wade serves
patients from Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Allen, Dallas, Prosper, and The Colony.
