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Oral Health: How To Prevent Tooth Damage From Acid Reflux

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Dealing with acid reflux is never a good feeling. While it can have different impacts on your overall health, it can also cause severe damage to your teeth. The acid that can get into your mouth can greatly degrade your teeth, removing the healthy enamel. This can lead to sensitive teeth and painful sensations. It also opens the door to bacteria entering the teeth, causing decay and cavities. It can also affect the physical shape of your teeth after years of wear. The following are some things you can do if you have severe acid reflux:

Keep Mouth Free Of Acid

After every bout with acid reflux, it is important that you get the acid out of your mouth as soon as you can. The easiest way to do this is by taking some water into your mouth and swishing it around for a few minutes before spitting it out. This can be done anywhere you are so that you can have healthy teeth. If you are at home, you can remove more of the acid using mouthwash or some salted water. You should also brush your teeth well. Taking these steps can help reduce the acid on your teeth and prevent erosion of tooth enamel.

Consider Additional Orthodontia

If your acid reflux is really severe and you don't want your teeth to erode away quickly, you may want to consider taking some orthodontic measures to keep your teeth healthy. Your back teeth are going to be the most affected by the acid because it comes into contact with it most often. To protect these teeth, you may want to consider having them crowned in order to protect them.

Deal With The Root Of The Problem

If you want to keep your teeth healthy for the long term, the best thing you can do is seek treatment for the acid reflux. You will need to see your doctor and possibly get prescription medication or other treatment. Antacids can also help. Milder cases of reflux can be dealt with using over-the-counter medicine. You should also alter your diet, and avoid certain foods and drinks that can cause reflux flare-ups. You should avoid caffeine, soda, sugar, and acidic foods, such as tomatoes and citrus.

Acid reflux is painful and can have a major impact on your oral health. In addition to seeing your doctor about your condition, you should also see the dentist at a clinic like Northwest Dental Services and Implant Center regularly so that your teeth can be protected.


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