Tooth Enamel Erosion

Tooth enamel is the strongest substance in the human body. This semi-translucent, hard, outer layer of the teeth
has an important job: protecting teeth from the daily wear and tear of biting and chewing, as well as
temperature extremes from hot or cold foods and drinks. Enamel also guards teeth against the erosive effects of
acids and chemicals.
Enamel covers the dentin, a part of the tooth that is not as dense as enamel. When enamel erodes, the dentin
loses some of its protection. Then, the microscopic tubes inside the dentin allow hot, cold, or sweet foods to
stimulate nerves within the tooth. As a result, you may notice that your teeth have become painfully sensitive to
hot or cold foods and drinks and sweets. Many factors can contribute to tooth enamel loss:

 Drinking too many soft drinks or fruit drinks, along with poor dental hygiene. Bacteria thrive on sugar
and produce high acid levels that can eat away at enamel.

 Eating lots of sour foods or candies. Acidic foods can erode tooth enamel.  

 Dry mouth or low saliva volume. Saliva helps prevent decay by neutralizing acids and washing away
leftover food in the mouth.

 Acid reflux disease (GERD), or heartburn. Acid reflux brings stomach acids up to the mouth, where the
acids can erode enamel.

 Bulimia, alcoholism, or binge drinking, in which frequent vomiting exposes teeth to stomach acids.  

 Certain drugs or supplements with high acid content, such as aspirin or vitamin C, can also erode
enamel.

 Friction and wear and tear from brushing teeth too vigorously or grinding teeth can erode enamel.

When tooth enamel erodes, teeth are more vulnerable to cavities and decay, and they may lead to these
symptoms: sensitive teeth or tooth pain when eating hot, cold, or sweet foods or drinks; rough or irregular
edges on the teeth, which can become cracked or chipped when enamel is lost; smooth, shiny surfaces on the
teeth -- enamel erosion causes mineral loss on these areas; yellowed teeth from thinned enamel; cupping, or
dents, that show up on the biting or chewing surfaces of the teeth.
Good dental care at home and at the dentist’s office can help prevent tooth enamel erosion. Here are 12 tips that
can help:

1. Cut down on acidic drinks and foods, such as carbonated drinks and citrus fruits and juices. If you do
drink them, do so at mealtimes to minimize their effects on the enamel. 

2. Switch to modified products, such as low-acid orange juice.

3. Rinse your mouth with water right after having acidic foods or drinks. 

4. Drink sodas and fruit juices with a straw, which helps acids to bypass the teeth. Don’t swish acidic drinks
around in your mouth.

5. Finish a meal with a glass of milk or piece of cheese to neutralize acids.

6. Chew sugar-free gum with xylitol, which reduces acids from foods and drinks. Chewing gum also
increases saliva flow, which helps prevent enamel erosion because saliva strengthens teeth with key
minerals.

7. Drink more water during the day if you have dry mouth or low saliva problems.

8. Use a soft toothbrush and avoid brushing too aggressively.

9. Wait for at least one hour to brush teeth after you've had acidic foods or drinks. Acid leaves the enamel
softened and more prone to erosion during brushing.

10. Use fluoride toothpaste or a fluoride mouth rinse to strengthen your teeth.

11. Ask your dentist to recommend a toothpaste to reduce tooth sensitivity or to protect against acid
erosion.
 12. Get treatment for disorders that can bring acid into the mouth, such as bulimia, alcoholism, or GERD.

There are several ways to fix damaged tooth enamel. The best approach depends on your particular problem
with enamel loss. Tooth bonding can protect a tooth with enamel erosion and improve the appearance of teeth
that are worn down, chipped, or discolored. If enamel loss is significant, a dentist may cover the tooth with a
crown to protect it from further damage.

I. Answer the following questions:

1. What causes tooth enamel erosion?

• Drinking too many soft drinks or fruit drinks, along with poor dental hygiene. Bacteria thrive on sugar
and produce high acid levels that can eat away at enamel.

• Eating lots of sour foods or candies. Acidic foods can erode tooth enamel.

• Dry mouth or low saliva volume. Saliva helps prevent decay by neutralizing acids and washing away
leftover food in the mouth.

• Acid reflux disease (GERD), or heartburn. Acid reflux brings stomach acids up to the mouth, where the
acids can erode enamel.

• Bulimia, alcoholism, or binge drinking, in which frequent vomiting exposes teeth to stomach acids.

• Certain drugs or supplements with high acid content, such as aspirin or vitamin C, can also erode enamel.

• Friction and wear and tear from brushing teeth too vigorously or grinding teeth can erode enamel.

2. What is the main function of tooth enamel?

protecting teeth from the daily wear and tear of biting and chewing, as well as temperature extremes from hot
or cold foods and drinks. Enamel also guards teeth against the erosive effects of acids and chemicals.

3. What happens when enamel erodes?

, teeth become more vulnerable to cavities and decay,

4. What causes tooth enamel loss?

• Drinking too many soft drinks or fruit drinks, along with poor dental hygiene. Bacteria thrive on sugar
and produce high acid levels that can eat away at enamel.

• Eating lots of sour foods or candies. Acidic foods can erode tooth enamel.

• Dry mouth or low saliva volume. Saliva helps prevent decay by neutralizing acids and washing away
leftover food in the mouth.

• Acid reflux disease (GERD), or heartburn. Acid reflux brings stomach acids up to the mouth, where the
acids can erode enamel.

• Bulimia, alcoholism, or binge drinking, in which frequent vomiting exposes teeth to stomach acids.

• Certain drugs or supplements with high acid content, such as aspirin or vitamin C, can also erode enamel.

• Friction and wear and tear from brushing teeth too vigorously or grinding teeth can erode enamel.
5. What are the symptoms of tooth enamel erosion?
 sensitive teeth or tooth pain when eating hot, cold, or sweet foods or drinks; rough or irregular edges on the
teeth, which can become cracked or chipped when enamel is lost; smooth, shiny surfaces on the teeth -- enamel
erosion causes mineral loss on these areas; yellowed teeth from thinned enamel; cupping, or dents, that show
up on the biting or chewing surfaces of the teeth
6. How can you protect tooth enamel from erosion?

1. Cut down on acidic drinks and foods, such as carbonated drinks and citrus fruits and juices. If you do
drink them, do so at mealtimes to minimize their effects on the enamel.

2. Switch to modified products, such as low-acid orange juice.

3. Rinse your mouth with water right after having acidic foods or drinks.

4. Drink sodas and fruit juices with a straw, which helps acids to bypass the teeth. Don’t swish acidic drinks
around in your mouth.

5. Finish a meal with a glass of milk or piece of cheese to neutralize acids.

6. Chew sugar-free gum with xylitol, which reduces acids from foods and drinks. Chewing gum also
increases saliva flow, which helps prevent enamel erosion because saliva strengthens teeth with key minerals.

7. Drink more water during the day if you have dry mouth or low saliva problems.

8. Use a soft toothbrush and avoid brushing too aggressively.

9. Wait for at least one hour to brush teeth after you've had acidic foods or drinks. Acid leaves the enamel
softened and more prone to erosion during brushing.

10. Use fluoride toothpaste or a fluoride mouth rinse to strengthen your teeth.

11. Ask your dentist to recommend a toothpaste to reduce tooth sensitivity or to protect against acid
erosion.

12. Get treatment for disorders that can bring acid into the mouth, such as bulimia, alcoholism, or GERD.
7. Can damaged tooth enamel be repaired?

No. . Tooth bonding can protect a tooth with enamel erosion and improve the appearance of teeth that are worn
down, chipped, or discolored. If enamel loss is significant, a dentist may cover the tooth with a crown to protect
it from further damage

II. Match the verbs with the appropriate nouns:

acids, saliva flow, acidic drinks, teeth, leftover food, mouth

To rinse mouth to
neutralize acids
to wash away leftover food
to cut down on acidic drinks
to increase saliva flow
to strengthen ..........teeth...........................

III. List the names of pathologial conditions mentioned in the article.

IV. Scan the article and write down the words (adjectives) to describe teeth/enamel.
Bulimia, alcoholism.

Example: sensitive teeth/enamel

Strong, hard, semi-translucent, rough , smoth, shiny, yellowed

V. Finish the sentences:

1. When tooth enamel erodes ....... , teeth are more vulnerable to cavities and
decay....................................................................................................

.2.A lot of factors can .... contribute to tooth enamel

3. People with eroded tooth enamel may present some symtomps sensitive teeth or tooth pain when eating
hot, cold, or sweet foods or drinks; rough or irregular edges on the teeth, which can become cracked or chipped
when enamel is lost; smooth, shiny surfaces on the teeth -- enamel erosion causes mineral loss on these areas;
yellowed teeth from thinned enamel; cupping, or dents, that show up on the biting or chewing surfaces of the
teeth

4. T To prevent toot enamel erosion you should Cut down on acidic drinks and food ,Rinse your mouth with
water right after having acidic foods or drinks.

4. Drink sodas and fruit juices with a straw, which helps acids to bypass the teeth. Don’t swish acidic drinks
around in your mouth.

5. Finish a meal with a glass of milk or piece of cheese to neutralize acids.

6. Chew sugar-free gum with xylitol, which reduces acids from foods and drinks. Chewing gum also
increases saliva flow, which helps prevent enamel erosion because saliva strengthens teeth with key minerals.

7. Drink more water during the day if you have dry mouth or low saliva problems.

8. Use a soft toothbrush and avoid brushing too aggressively.

9. Wait for at least one hour to brush teeth after you've had acidic foods or drinks. Acid leaves the enamel
softened and more prone to erosion during brushing.

10. Use fluoride toothpaste or a fluoride mouth rinse to strengthen your teeth.

11. Ask your dentist to recommend a toothpaste to reduce tooth sensitivity or to protect against acid
erosion.

12. Get treatment for disorders that can bring acid into the mouth, such as bulimia, alcoholism, or GERD. o
prevent tooth enamel erosion .....

Treatment of damaged tooth enamel entails Tooth bonding or a crown .