Acid erosion

Erosion is in dentistry a poorly defined tooth structure loss by different acid agents.

Exogenous causes

The acids can be supplied from outside ( fruit acids in fruits, fruit juices, sodas, energy drinks, fruit teas, iced teas, candies, oxalic acid in rhubarb and spinach, vinegar or lactic acid ( in sauerkraut, sour milk products)) or produced by the body itself.

Balancing acts stimulating the production of saliva by means of acids, resulting in a dilution and neutralization of the acids, the faster removal and remineralization of the tooth enamel.

Endogenous causes

The latter is the hydrochloric acid of the gastric juice, which can reach or reaches ( acid reflux ) or vomiting in the oral cavity with a reflux disease. So can lead reflux disease dental erosions in the diagnosis of no sound ( otherwise asymptomatic ). It affects primarily the lingual surfaces of the front teeth of the upper jaw and the occlusal surfaces of the posterior teeth. In addition, erosive changes of the teeth on a chronic vomiting point, where here the existence of a psychological eating disorder ( anorexia nervosa or bulimia ) should be considered.

Other possibilities for a loss of tooth substance are bruxism ( nighttime teeth grinding ) and an abrasion caused by highly abrasive toothpastes, toothbrushes too hard or too much pressure when brushing your teeth.

Furthermore, the cause may be in reduced saliva production. Through diseases, medicines and drugs, it may be that due to over stimulation of the sympathetic saliva - which ensures the remineralization of the teeth - is insufficiently formed. Especially the example crystal meth occurs with amphetamines. This disease is referred to as meth mouth.