Do you suffer from heartburn on a regular basis? You might suffer from GERD and this stomach problem can also affect your oral health.

GERD is short-hand for gastroesophageal reflux disorder and the discomfort felt by GERD sufferers is caused by the stomach acid rising into the esophagus or mouth. This acid erodes the lining of the esophagus and also erodes tooth enamel.

Common dental signs of GERD are tooth erosion, tooth sensitivity, bad breath or a sour taste in the mouth. Tooth enamel begins dissolving when the pH value in our mouth drops below 5.2. The pH value of stomach acid is around 2.0 – so you can see why this condition is so damaging to teeth. About 25% of adult GERD patients experience serious dental erosion.

Not surprisingly, many cases of GERD are first spotted by dentists! Many patients ignore or mask their symptoms using over the counter medications – eroded dental enamel is one sign that your dentist won’t ignore.

GERD is becoming more common, especially as our population becomes heavier. This is a potentially serious (due to tissue damage in the esophagus) condition that can be treated and controlled. The dental manifestations of acid reflex should not be ignored because the weakened tooth structure can lead to decay and breakage. Repairing the tooth erosion caused by stomach acid will probably include dental crowns, veneers and other types of restorations that will restore tooth function and appearance.

It is important that patients with GERD visit their dentist regularly. Please contact  Columbus, OH cosmetic dentist Dr. Mark Levy at 614-476-6696 today to schedule your next visit.