Acid erosion

What on earth is going on with my teeth? I've had acid erosion for the last 8+ years. I was told that it is easy enough to stop, and was told not to drink fizzy drinks etc where possible, to brush well and all that. Well, I followed that advice. I look after my teeth really well, I barely ever drink fizzy drinks, or acidic juice, much less than most people. But instead of stopping, the erosion keeps continuing and now it's getting really bad. Last time I was at the dentist the hygienist gave out to me and said I'd be looking at veneers if it didn't stop. Well, what on earth can I do? I go to the dentist every six months, I follow their advice. I saw my GP about possible stomach acid issues and nothing was found. I'm not bulimic. I have a healthy, low sugar diet in general. I do drink quite a bit of wine but I switched to red from white to see if it helped.

I was given this stuff called GC tooth mousse to help with the erosion, and told to use it several times a week, it's like a paste you put on your teeth. You're supposed to leave it on a few mins, spit out the excess and leave the rest there. Well, the other night I was in bed and I felt a weird sensation on my tooth, I look in the mirror and a biggish piece of one of my front teeth had come off. Right after using this tooth mousse. How did that happen? It looks so bad. I mean, I've always had tiny little pieces chipping off but this was a big piece. This mousse is supposed to help your teeth, not ruin them even more! Or was it a coincidence? I'm just so depressed about all this. I can't afford veneers and don't want them. I look after my teeth really well. My parents gave us pure juice as kids and teenagers, so that probably explains how it started but why is it getting worse? The only time I drink pure juice now is when I'm sick and need vitamin C. What can I do?? My teeth are in bits.

ballsymchugh

could you post a photo so we can get an idea? and maybe hold something behind the tip of your incisors which would give an idea of how bad it is. it's just to give us a clue though, don't expect too much.
this has been at you a while as far as i remember, but it's unusual for a chunk of your tooth to break away easily. are you sure it wasn't a white filling on the tip of the tooth?
the GC mousse won't replace missing enamel. the most it is meant to do is make what's there stronger. which is what fluoride in the toothpaste and water does anyway.

ballsymchugh

ballsymchugh wrote: »

could you post a photo so we can get an idea? and maybe hold something behind the tip of your incisors which would give an idea of how bad it is. it's just to give us a clue though, don't expect too much.
this has been at you a while as far as i remember, but it's unusual for a chunk of your tooth to break away easily. are you sure it wasn't a white filling on the tip of the tooth?
the GC mousse won't replace missing enamel. the most it is meant to do is make what's there stronger. which is what fluoride in the toothpaste and water does anyway.

Yeah I'll try to post a pic soon. No, it wasn't a white filling, I've had those in the past but not for ages now. I know the GC won't replace enamel but surely it's not supposed to make my teeth break? Overall it did seem to make an improvement, so I'm confused.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Tooth Mouse is a great product IMHO however it does not prevent thin of unsupported tooth structure breaking it only remineralises the existing tooth structure in the top few microns slowing future errosive cycles. It does noting you could see with your eyes.

White wine is much much more acidic than red in general BTW...

You need to address the cause, without knowing the cause you cannot fix anything. If its a stomach problem then splints make it worse by pooling acid at night, if its diet then tooth mouse does nothing as the frequency makes remineralisation futile. Are you sure its erosive, could be attrition or abrasion from grinding. The pattern of the tooth wear tells the tale really and your dentist can advise, of refer you to a specialist to advise.

Find the cause....control the cause....restore the damage if necessary.....monitor the result.

You got to concentrate on the cause, make a chart, write everything you eat of drink no matter how small down for 2 weeks and show this to your dentist.

Uriel Unkempt Tea

Uriel Unkempt Tea wrote: »

Tooth Mouse is a great product IMHO however it does not prevent thin of unsupported tooth structure breaking it only remineralises the existing tooth structure in the top few microns slowing future errosive cycles. It does noting you could see with your eyes.

White wine is much much more acidic than red in general BTW...

You need to address the cause, without knowing the cause you cannot fix anything. If its a stomach problem then splints make it worse by pooling acid at night, if its diet then tooth mouse does nothing as the frequency makes remineralisation futile. Are you sure its erosive, could be attrition or abrasion from grinding. The pattern of the tooth wear tells the tale really and your dentist can advise, of refer you to a specialist to advise.

Find the cause....control the cause....restore the damage if necessary.....monitor the result.

You got to concentrate on the cause, make a chart, write everything you eat of drink no matter how small down for 2 weeks and show this to your dentist.

Thanks for advice.

Well this has been going on a long time and my GP can't see any internal cause. It seems to be diet, but as I said, I really don't drink or eat many acidic foods. I will do a food diary for my dentist next week. I just don't understand how it can be so bad I eat so well. White wine would have been my last obvious vice but I even virtually cut it out as well.

I don't think it is grinding but I'm just going by what dentist have seen and told me. It's basically my two front teeth on the top, they've chipped loads at the bottom, become transparent on the edges and weak. I'll try to post a pic so you can see it.

vishal

Erosion on the inside surfaces of the two front teeth is usually classic of Gastroesophageal reflux. What tests did your doctor do?
Do you use inhalers for asthma?

vishal

vishal wrote: »

Erosion on the inside surfaces of the two front teeth is usually classic of Gastroesophageal reflux. What tests did your doctor do?
Do you use inhalers for asthma?

I think it's the front surfaces. The front of my teeth feel tacky and weird whereas the back seems OK, I think. Well, they always assumed acid erosion until I insisted that I didn't drink fizzy drinks and so on, then they started to ask about bulimia. The doctor just did some basic tests, not sure what exactly but based on what I said, she didn't think it was likely. I've never noticed any symptoms of acid reflux. Nope, I don't use inhalers.

vishal

do you suck lemons? Do you brush directly after drinking orange juice in the morning (you should brush before your meal). Do you do any industrial work?

A pic would be quite helpful so we can get an idea.

Usually the surface that is effected is and feels glassy smooth to the tongue.

Don't quote me on this but I believe there are tests where they can monitor the pH in your mouth as you sleep.

actually just googled it http://www.nationaljewish.org/pdf/TF%20-%20BRAVO%20pH%20Monitoring.pdf

If your teeth are real bad it may be worth especially if you can't rule out your diet . ask your doctor if they know anything about it.

jackthelad321

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I also take good care of my teeth, flossing and brushing and using mouthwash. The last time i went to the dentist she said I had some acid erosion but didn't go on any more. So i supposed if she didn't eloborate it was ok.

Now that i look closely at my teeth the one beside my front right tooth is really eroded, it appears receded, has a yellow tinge to it and my gums are protruding. it makes me cringe everytime i see it in the mirror. I also don't want venners, i'm only turned 26 and i do take really good care of my teeth.

sorry, this is no soloution i know but i though you might like to know ther are others in a similar and bewildered state. i also think it's my stomach acid. :mad:

supermammy

Hi All
New to boards .Just surfing around everywhere trying to get as much info as I can on Acid Erosion.
I visited Dentists after a gap of 3 years .3 years ago was told I had A.E. but wasn't really told anything about it .I since went back because I new myself I lost a bit of my tooth and my front teeth have reduced in size and are very discoloured almost transparent in the front.
I was not prepared for what this dentist told me.Basically she thinks I have a problem at night with acid .I have no symptoms.Dentists also reckons I grind at night which I could believe.
I have a good diet,don't drink fizzy drinks only in a vodka and that maybe every 8weeks on average.I don't drink juices and I don't smoke.I don't suck lemons either.
I don't know the course of treatment yet but splint has been mentioned and crowns.
I am very scared of the cost of all this.
At moment waiting for next appointment and talk through of plan.Also waiting on referal to get stomach checked.
Any advice comments.

Sorry I haven't had a chance to come back to this. My teeth are actually in bits. I don't get it. This erosion has been going on for years, but the pieces seem to be breaking off all the time now. Literally every week a new little piece falls off. It makes no sense, as I'm taking more care than ever not to drink anything acidic, use the Pronamel mouthwash etc. I am NOT convinced about these Tooth Mousse - every time I use it, a piece of tooth falls off. What's going on?

I went to my GP and had some tests but she didn't find anything out of the ordinary. The affected surface seems to be the front of the teeth - it feels rough and bumpy and my other teeth all feel smooth. The back of the front teeth feels smooth.

I don't do any of the 'no-no's for acid erosion as I've been so conscious of them for years. Never drink orange juice for breakfast or anything. I was drinking quite a bit of white wine for a while but barely drink it at all now. Hardly any fizzy drinks. I do tend to eat a lot of chopped tomatoes with pasta which I hadn't thought of - is this likely to be significant? It would be about once or twice a week, and I don't brush my teeth directly afterwards. I eat the odd satsuma but I'm so paranoid now, I barely eat any fruit anymore. I hate to be melodramatic but its starting to significantly detract from my quality of life. I can't find a single thing to drink when I go out, I can't eat fruit, I can't even have a Coke on a hot day, and still my teeth are falling to bits.

What treatments are possible? My old dentist used to do the white fillings and I liked this, as although they were obviously just a temp solution, they prevented further damage being done and my teeth looked well for quite a while afterwards. What reason would my new dentist have for not doing them? Is there anything else that can be done? I'm so depressed, I can't afford veneers and I don't think a healthy 24 year old woman with a good diet who has no fillings and goes to the dentist every 6 months should be needing them!

supermammy

Hi Izzy Wizzy
I am sorry to hear about your teeth.Has your Dentist said what they can do for you? You need to know what the future holds for you.My Dentist is sitting down with me this week to go through my plan.I have some savings but don't think it will be enough somehow and don't want to empty out everything.I think you should get some kind of plan so you know what the future is for you then if you are working?? try and save or they may workout a pay plan for you.
I might check out some competitive prices but don't want to go overseas for treatment.
I hate all this I have always had trouble with my teeth and now know they are really weak and I have to act fast.
Good Luck
Keep Posting your progress.:D

supermammy

supermammy wrote: »

Hi Izzy Wizzy
I am sorry to hear about your teeth.Has your Dentist said what they can do for you? You need to know what the future holds for you.My Dentist is sitting down with me this week to go through my plan.I have some savings but don't think it will be enough somehow and don't want to empty out everything.I think you should get some kind of plan so you know what the future is for you then if you are working?? try and save or they may workout a pay plan for you.
I might check out some competitive prices but don't want to go overseas for treatment.
I hate all this I have always had trouble with my teeth and now know they are really weak and I have to act fast.
Good Luck
Keep Posting your progress.:D

No, he hasn't been helpful, I don't like him much. I will go to see him when I finish exams and discuss maybe white fillings or another temporary solution for now. I should not need veneers yet but the issue is the many pieces which are breaking off the bottom of my teeth. I think white fillings may prevent this, as they have in the past.

Gekko

I'm also suffering acid erosion at the age of 29, not as bad as the OPs case but the bottom biting surfaces of my two front teeth and the two beside them are not in great shape.

Little chips and dents bit by bit.

Due to a metabolic condition I can't alter my diet very much.

I use pronamel, I floss. I'm so paranoid that I rinse some toothpaste around my mouth as well several times a day in between meals, often before and after them, hoping it will help. Not sure whether it does.

Am wondering about getting these teeth capped, but am not sure if there's any difference between caps and crowns.