Help!! tooth enamel erosion

Hi lovely moneysavers

I went to see an orthodontist this week (am having invisalign braces.) I'm 43 and he was concerned about the amount of erosion on my teeth - partly due to grinding, and partly diet. He asked if I'm vegetarian, which I have been since my teens.

Every morning, I always have some toast and OJ, then I brush my teeth. He says not to brush for an hour after having acidic foods. We also use mouthwash and I'm now wondering about the PH of this - it doesn't say on the bottle.

Just wondering if anyone has this problem, and could share any tips to help preserve the long term health of my teeth?

Thanks in advance, Ruthie

Comments

  • zagfles
    zagfles Posts: 21,381 Forumite
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    Ruthie5 wrote: »
    Hi lovely moneysavers

    I went to see an orthodontist this week (am having invisalign braces.) I'm 43 and he was concerned about the amount of erosion on my teeth - partly due to grinding, and partly diet. He asked if I'm vegetarian, which I have been since my teens.

    Every morning, I always have some toast and OJ, then I brush my teeth. He says not to brush for an hour after having acidic foods. We also use mouthwash and I'm now wondering about the PH of this - it doesn't say on the bottle.

    Just wondering if anyone has this problem, and could share any tips to help preserve the long term health of my teeth?

    Thanks in advance, Ruthie

    Yes it's a bad idea to brush your teeth soon after drinking acidic drinks eg OJ, wine, etc. If I drink fruit juice at breakfast I drink it before, rather that after the food, and if I've had wine in the evening I usually rinse with a mouthful of milk before brushing my teeth, this apparently helps neutralise the acid.
  • TheEffect
    TheEffect Posts: 2,293 Forumite
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    EDIT: Opps, must have clicked reply rather then new thread!
  • tara747
    tara747 Posts: 10,238 Forumite
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    I always brush my teeth first thing, then eat breakfast afterwards. I don't brush at night till at least an hour after eating. The food softens the enamel, then brushing can wear it away.

    Didn't know about the milk tip, thanks zagfles!
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  • brook2jack
    brook2jack Posts: 4,563 Forumite
    Avoid citrus fruits,drinks with bubbles, smoothies, lots of foods with vinegar,white wine. Cheese is excellent as it neutralises acid. Don't brush at least an hour after food drink.

    I wouldn't use a mouthwash as there are many which have a low ph.

    Investigate any indigestion , heart burn as stomach acid can also cause damage. Talk to your dentist about high fluoride toothpastes.

    Orthodontics may make grinding better or worse. At the end of treatment talk to your dentist about having a night guard to help prevent damage from grinding.
  • Its an every day toothpaste with a bit of an umph:D
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  • jenniewb
    jenniewb Posts: 12,842 Forumite
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    I have quite bad enamel erosion (suprizes my dentist anyway!). I find it hurts to eat most things now and fillings just seem to fall out within months. I have this as a result of having had both anorexia and bulimia and then relapsed again, despite not having been bulimic for several years (this I feel is what did the bulk of the damage) tooth enamel does not grow back and the damage has been done and things just get worse.

    I would say that for me the only thing that seems to help are the tooth enamel toothpastes. Infact only the pronamel sensodyne toothpaste works (none of the other enamel rebuilding/supporting pasts do anything and some actually really hurt to use: ie Colgate!) I have not tried an enamel protect mouth wash as I get alot of other issues and use a mouth wash dedicated to that- can't afford two. I don't know if a mouth wash would help me though.

    I think from what I understand its about supporting and protecting the enamel you have left as if its damaged its not going to grow back and there is nothing you can do about that. I'd suggest laying off very acidic things or things like fizzy drinks, either diet or full sugar (infact I hear diet is worse as the sweeteners are more acidic then sugar is) mix that with loads of tiny bubbles smashing against your teeth and you have a remedy for tooth damage without doing anything more then swiging back a mouthful.

    As mentioned above, don't brush for at least an hour after eating, even if its milk your drinking all foods and liquids are slightly acidic and your saliva is there to neutralise what is left over in your mouth. Water I was suggested to rinse with rather then a mouth wash which are also most likely to be acidic.

    I used to think chewing gum was a good idea and so used to chew after eating to help the saliva arrive faster but on a recent visit to the dentist I was told I have more wear and at the back of my teeth where I had been chewing. Probably due also to the low enamel already there but it would seem even chewing gum isn't a fail-safe!

    With eroded tooth enamel one thing to watch out for is darkly coloured foods and drinks which can stain teeth, they can stain much easier then if you had healthy teeth. Things like coffee or black tea (even with milk in, its better but still will cause stainging), coke/diet coke, vinegars....etc can all promote stainging.
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