Acid Reflux and Dental Health: How GERD Affects Your Teeth and Gums
If you’ve ever wondered “can acid reflux affect your teeth and gums,” you’ve come to the right place. Today, we’re going to chat about the symptoms of acid reflux in the mouth and how reflux affects your oral health. You might be surprised how much damage can actually be done. Let’s get started.
How Does Reflux Affect Your Oral Health?
Normally, stomach acid and digestive enzymes stay where they’re supposed to be: in the stomach.
In acid reflux sufferers, that’s not the case. For these patients, both stomach acid and stomach enzymes can make their way back up into the esophagus and sometimes even back into the mouth and trachea. This is a problem; stomach contents range from 1.5-3.5 pH – that’s very acidic and highly damaging to tissues that aren’t built for interaction with it.
Common Signs Acid Reflux Is Affecting Your Oral Health
So, what are the symptoms of acid reflux in the mouth? Here are a few:
Persistent bad breath
Sour taste in the mouth
Tooth sensitivity
Discoloration of the teeth
Increased incidence of cavities
Ulcers in the mouth
Who Is Most at Risk?
If you struggle with GERD, you’ll know whether this is a potential problem for you. If you have night aspiration (stomach acid waking you up because it’s entering your trachea), you should speak with your doctor about this problem. Furthermore, your dentist is a good resource for how to prevent your teeth and mouth.
Learn More: GERD Awareness Week: Everything You Should Know
How Do I Protect My Mouth from the Effects of GERD?
We’ve covered this in a previous blog, so make sure to check it out: How To Protect Your Teeth From Acid Reflux. However, a quick recap is certainly in order. Here are a few tips to help you protect your mouth from GERD:
Visit the dentist regularly, maybe even more often than other people.
Rinse with baking soda after an attack. The sooner you neutralize the acid on your teeth, the less damage it can do.
Avoid your heartburn triggers.
Don’t brush immediately after an attack or eating an acidic meal. The abrasion can further damage your teeth. Give it an hour or so.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a remineralizing or sensitive toothpaste.
Is the Damage Reversible? Here Are Your Treatment and Recovery Options
Damage to your teeth is permanent. While remineralizing products can help, catching this symptom early is the key to great oral health. Furthermore, stopping GERD in its tracks will eliminate the problem altogether; we’re fans of this option. It will not only improve your oral health but it will also improve your day-to-day comfort and ability to sleep at night. It’s a win-win.
Our recommendation is to fight GERD-related oral decay in two ways:
Reach out to us for help solving your reflux woes. We can perform surgery that ends your GERD problems for good. Contact us today →
Work with your dentist to restore enamel health to your teeth so they can withstand anything.