8 Common Reasons for Enamel Erosion

Posted on December 29, 2016

When it comes to keeping your teeth clean, most of us can agree that dental hygiene is a priority. However, even though tooth enamel is one of the toughest substances, it actually can erode over time, resulting in the visibility of yellow dentin – the tooth structure that sits under enamel which is yellow in color. Depending on what you normally eat, consume, or drink; you may be inadvertently adding to your enamel erosion. Most San Francisco patients don’t focus too much on their teeth eroding, as most of the time it doesn’t seem to be a problem. But over time, continuously neglecting your teeth can result in many unwanted problems for you. We all want a lovely, radiant smile. Keeping up with proper dental care and visiting your dentist regularly is one way to do that.

At our San Francisco office, we often get patients that ask cosmetic dentist Dr. Skoulas about how to prevent enamel erosion. Usually, by the time patients realize there’s a problem, it’s a bit too late to do anything preventative about the erosion. Nevertheless, we believe that knowing and understanding the causes of this problem is one way to help actively prevent a dental crisis. At Skoulas DDS, our expert San Francisco dentist Dr. Skoulas has come up with eight reasons that your enamel may slowly decay over time. Hopefully, with this knowledge, you will be able to help prevent against these issues in the future:

Acidic foods: Acid is one of the main causes of enamel erosion. When you drink or eat acidic foods, the substances eat away at your tooth’s outer shell. Over time, excessive consumption can lead to erosion leaving your teeth susceptible to stains and other teeth discoloration problems.

Sodas and Soft Drinks: Within the acid category falls soft drinks and sodas, which is why your dentist will almost always tell you to avoid these drinks! Carbonated beverages are typically one of the reasons for San Francisco enamel erosion. This is because most people drink soda without thinking about the negative effects it can have on your teeth. However, too much soda can also result in your teeth slowly decaying due to the sugar.

Certain Types of Medicine: Many San Francisco patients don’t know that certain medicines also contain acids. Aspirin and antihistamines are common medicines that have acid in them. Taking these too often can reason in enamel erosion and dry mouth, which can lead to cavities.

Alcohol: While you can enjoy alcohol in moderation, wine and beer also will slowly disintegrate your teeth. It’s best to keep your consumption to a minimum to keep healthy, white teeth.

Genetics: Believe it or not, genetics also plays a major role in teeth. If your family has a history of bad teeth, it’s not unlikely that you will experience issues as well. Although, working with your local dentist can help you to fix any of these aesthetic teeth problems.

Smoking and Lifestyle Factors: Smoking is a lifestyle factor that also can affect your teeth. Besides discoloration, smoking can have a huge effect on your teeth’s enamel, causing it to erode over time.

Bruxism: Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is another issue when it comes to your teeth. Especially since this occurs most commonly at night, most patients won’t even realize that they’re doing it. After a while, the bruxism will slowly grind down your teeth, making them vulnerable to other problems.

Gastrointestinal problems: Because of this issue, stomach acids may ultimately wear down your teeth on the surface. Your enamel can slowly disintegrate due to your gastrointestinal problems.

For more information on enamel erosion and how to prevent it, please reach out to Dr. Skoulas today! Call us at our San Francisco office at (415) 757-0110 and we’ll tell you more ways to keep your smile shining brightly.