Dental Erosion Is the Slow

Dental erosion is the slow erosion of the tooth's hard outward coating caused by the exposure to acidic liquids. According to a national survey conducted in the UK, 25% of children already have dental erosion by the age of 5 and 30% are suffering from severe dental erosion by the age of 10. Causes of dental erosion can be linked to both exterior acidic substances and internal substances. Most dental erosion occurs from exterior acidic sources. In children, the most common causes of erosion are fruit juice and carbonated beverages.

These substances stick to the child's teeth and wear down the enamel until the teeth are brushed. For adults, everything from wine to tea and coffee break down the enamel and make the teeth weak. Other outward substances that can cause substantial erosion include beer, vinegar, and lemon juice. In some cases, the erosion is caused by internal substances. The primary internal substance that breaks down tooth enamel is stomach acid. Stomach acid has a pH of 1.2, making it almost as acidic as battery acid.

While the substance is helpful in the stomach, it does harm to teeth when regurgitated due to illness or disorder. Currently recommended preventative measures include avoiding acidic substances (especially at night), brushing teeth, flossing, drinking more milk and fluoridated water, and rinsing with fluoride mouthwash. While these measures are recommended, little is known to an appropriate time frame for each process or to the harm that can be caused if done too soon after damage begins.

Research Questions: While the causes of dental erosion are well established, there is little known about the most effective treatments for neutralizing and reducing the damage caused by dental erosion. It is established that proper dental hygiene such as brushing teeth, flossing, drinking fluoridated water, and using a fluoride rinse are helpful, but no studies have been conducted to determine how effective each of these measures actually are. Additionally, there is no current evidence as to the optimal time frame for proper treatment and prevention.

Theoretical Framework / Methodology: This study will require a clinical application with short-term followup. The study would involve introducing a common acidic substance to the participant's mouth. The various groups would then use one of the many recommended methods for reversing the acidity. The control group would do absolutely nothing differently from their normal routine. After the process is complete, enamel measurements would be taken to determine the total amount of.