A Consultant Prosthodontist, Dental Services Department, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Dr. Kolawole Obagbemiro, has cautioned against drinking soft drinks directly from bottles, noting that it can cause enamel erosion, leading to tooth sensitivity and decay.
According to the dental surgeon, carbonate acid in soft drinks can erode the enamel. He recommended the use of straw instead.
According to healthline.com, an online medical portal, the enamel is the first defence for the teeth against different chemicals people are exposed to daily when consuming food and bodily fluids.
It stated that tooth erosion happens when acids wear away the enamel on the teeth.
“Symptoms of tooth enamel erosion can vary. They often include increased sensitivity to taste, textures, temperature, cracks an
d chips, discoloration, indentations known as cups on the surface of your teeth. You may have significant enamel erosion if you experience pain, high sensitivity when exposed to cold, hot, acidic, and spicy food and drink, Over time, enamel erosion can lead to complications such as yellow stained teeth, overly sensitive teeth, rough edges on your teeth, shiny spots on your teeth, increased tooth decay, gradual wearing of enamel, leading to clear, slightly translucent teeth and fractured teeth, “the site stated.
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Obagbemiro, who is the president, Nigerian Dental Association, further revealed that the acid that flows back from the stomach after a meal can also cause enamel erosion if it is a frequent occurrence.
“The tooth surface, which is the enamel layer, by the time the acid from the stomach flows back to the mouth and the person vomits or regurgitates, the acid affects the surface of the teeth (palatal surface).
“It may not be the whole food content but maybe, a little food or fluid from the food that flows back to the mouth. The fluid is acidic because it contains gastric acid that can cause enamel erosion in the person.”
The specialist in prosthetics dentistry said one of the preventive measures against enamel erosion is to use toothpaste fortified with fluoride and dental floss when necessary.
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