Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and Your Oral Health

If your doctor has told you that you have GERD, commonly known as acid reflux, your teeth and health could be at risk.  When you experience heartburn, you are feeling acid come up from your stomach, through your esophagus, and into your mouth.  This acid is more than uncomfortable, it can cause a lot of damage along the way.

When it comes to  GERD and your oral health, our main concerns are:

Tooth Erosion: Your tooth enamel is helpless against an influx of acid and can become severely damaged.  Enamel loss is permanent and leaves your teeth vulnerable to cavities and other serious dental problems.  In most cases, we can restore your teeth, but treating your medical condition is the real key to preserving your teeth and preventing extra dental treatment. 

Esophageal Cancer:  As the acid travels through the esophagus it causes irritation and inflammation.  With regular exposure, this irritation can result in cells that mutate into malignant cancer.

Can you see why we are so concerned about this?

Acid reflux is more than an uncomfortable inconvenience.  It is important to work with your doctor to keep this condition under control and prevent excess damage to your teeth and throat. Be sure to let your dentist know if you have this disease and get regular dental checkups so that any issues can be caught early.

If you are concerned about the impact acid reflux may be taking on your teeth, we would be happy to help.

Call (916) 624-3119  Rocklin, CA  Dan Hopper, DDS