A dental hygienist with a young patient.
Many Canadian dental professionals report that they are seeing signs of acid wear in the enamel of a growing number of young patients.
"I have been in dentistry for 15 years, and it's definitely more common today to see children, pre-teens and teens with significant acid erosion. The inside of the upper teeth is one of the first spots it shows up and it's mainly from drinking acidic beverages," says Martha Szczepulski, who practises dental hygiene in Vancouver.
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| Educating patients on how to guard against acid wear: Dentist Dr. Bruce Ward of North Vancouver |
The growing popularity of acidic sports and energy drinks among older children is often cited as one factor. Younger children are also at risk, for example, when parents give them orange or apple juice before bedtime.
"During sleep, saliva flow is reduced and that diminishes its buffering capacity, making the acids that much stronger in the mouth," says Ms. Szczepulski. "And particularly in children, the erosive potential from something like fruit juice is highest when saliva flow is lowest."
One of the best steps parents can take to protect their children's teeth from acid wear is to instead give them water before sleep, she says.
Because acid wear cannot be reversed, these and other protective steps are very important.
According to Calgary-based registered dental hygienist Sally Lloyd, one of the first warning signs may come when parents notice their children more often complain about sensitivity from hot or cold food or drinks.
"In these cases, I begin by asking a lot of questions about dietary habits," she says. "Are they often drinking orange juice? Eating a lot of citrus fruits?"
The answers to these types of questions can help dental professionals give parents the best advice, which may include monitoring the acidic content of your child's diet; guiding your child to drink an acidic beverage in one sitting, instead of sipping them throughout the day; and encouraging them to swallow that drink immediately, rather than swirling it around in their mouth.
Children should also be supported to protect what's precious and develop good oral hygiene habits – brushing twice a day with toothpaste such as Pronamel® for Children to help re-harden and strengthen enamel.
Of course a key piece of advice is to take your child to a dental professional as early as possible, says Ms. Lloyd.
"It's very important to get children off to a great start to prevent tooth decay and acid erosion. That's why we tell parents to bring in their children for that first check-up six months after the first tooth erupts or no later than age one."
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“I have been in dentistry for 15 years, and it’s definitely more common today to see children, pre-teens and teens with significant acid erosion.” |
| Martha Szczepulski practises dental hygiene in Vancouver |
Children's primary or "baby" teeth are very much at risk for acid wear, says Bruce Ward, a North Vancouver dentist and spokesperson for the British Columbia Dental Association.
"The enamel on baby teeth is very thin compared to that of adult teeth," says Dr. Ward. "So it doesn't take much to lose that enamel covering, and once decay sets into a baby tooth it goes very fast. If it's not treated, the child can go from having a minor cavity to a major nerve problem in a year.
"And something we see a lot in our practice – parents downplaying the importance of baby teeth, saying, 'Don't worry about repairing that tooth; it's going to fall out anyway.'"
However, many types of problems with a child's primary teeth can lead to problems with their permanent teeth, says Dr. Ward.
"If you lose baby teeth early because of decay or enamel loss, various long-term problems can occur."
Dr. Ward has additional advice for protecting young patients against acid wear.
"I advise parents to encourage their children to stay away from carbonated, energy and sports drinks as much as possible. We tell young people, 'Rinse your mouth with water after consuming a high-acid beverage and wait before brushing, so the natural minerals in your mouth can re-mineralize your enamel.'"
This content was produced by Randall Anthony Communications, in partnership with The Globe and Mail's advertising department. The Globe's editorial department was not involved in its creation.