Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley CA
We hate to break it to you, but even if you are diligent about your dental hygiene and avoid tooth decay, you still may end up needing dental work. Why? Because of tooth sensitivity, caused by the erosion of your tooth enamel. Your family dentists in Scotts Valley at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry want to make you aware of the dangers of dental erosion, the causes, and how we can help.
What you drink can be bad for your health
Now more than ever, people in the United States are getting a higher percentage of their calories from beverages. Many of these drinks are high in sugar, which can raise your risk of tooth decay. Even if you stay mindful of this and opt for drinks that are low in sugar, your teeth still could be at risk due to the acid content of your beverages. Moreover, sipping these drinks throughout the day keeps your teeth exposed to these acids, which have more opportunity to erode your enamel—the protective outer layer of your tooth structure.
Bad things happen once the enamel on your teeth starts to deteriorate. The next layer of your tooth structure, dentin, is not as strong and will erode more quickly. The best thing you can do is try to limit your consumptions of both sugary drinks and highly acidic drinks—defined as any that have a pH of 4 or less. These acidic beverages include most juices, including orange, cranberry, tomato, and grapefruit; popular sodas such as Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew and Sprite; wine; fruit drinks such as lemonade, juice boxes, and Sunny Delight; sports drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade; and alcoholic drinks such as champagne and most types of beers.
You may see this list and be thinking, “what am I supposed to drink?” If your favorites are listed among these high-acid options, just practice moderation rather than drinking them all the time. Have one soft drink with a meal, rather than sipping on one throughout the day. And remember, your best beverage choice is water, which is sugar-free, calorie-free, and non-acidic.
Take care of tooth erosion in Scotts Valley
At Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry, we believe a little prevention goes a long way when it comes to maintaining your oral health. We have several treatment options that improve your ability to fight off threats such as tooth decay and dental erosion. Our fluoride treatments, for example, re-mineralize the small imperfections that form naturally on all our teeth. These fluoride treatments strengthen your teeth, making them less susceptible to damage and decay. We also offer dental bonding and crowns as a means to permanently cover teeth with severe enamel erosion.
If you have any questions about dental enamel erosion or tooth sensitivity, schedule a consultation with Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry today by calling (831) 438-4411 if you live in the areas of Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, and Scotts Valley, California.
