Acid Wear: What Is It?

What is acid wear?
What is the difference between decay and wear?
What causes acid wear?
What foods are deemed acidic?

Acid Wear: Effects

How does acid wear affect teeth?
How quickly can the effects of acid wear occur?

Acid Wear Those Affected

Is the number of people affected by acid wear increasing?
Who is most likely to be affected by acid wear?
Can children have acid wear?
Is it true that acid wear is something that people should not worry about until they are older?

Acid Wear: Prevention

What can be done to help prevent acid wear?
What are the long term consequences of acid wear?

Acid Wear: A Modern Phenomenon?

Why is acid wear only now becoming a problem?
How long have dentists known acid wear is a problem?

PRONAMEL^®

How does PRONAMEL help protect teeth from acid wear?
How often do I need to use PRONAMEL for it to be effective?
Does PRONAMEL repair tooth enamel?
Do I need to use a regular toothpaste alongside PRONAMEL?
What sort of toothbrush should I use to minimise acid wear?
Does PRONAMEL do everything my normal toothpaste will?
Are there any side effects from using PRONAMEL?

 

Acid Wear: What Is It?

What is acid wear?

Acid Wear is a growing problem that contributes to the everyday wear and tear of teeth. The acids in certain foods and drinks can temporarily soften the enamel on the tooth surface. This softened enamel is vulnerable to wear. This process is known as acid wear and can affect the appearance of teeth.

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What is the difference between decay and wear?

When foods containing sugars or starches are eaten, the bacteria in the mouth (in plaque) convert these products to acids that can lead to dissolving of the tooth enamel. Over time, this can cause the enamel to break down and a cavity to form, which may require filling by a dentist.

Whilst decay is a localised process (ie. it does not effect all of the teeth at one time), wear occurs across the whole tooth surface that has been exposed to acid. It does not involve bacteria or dietary sugars, but is the result of direct action of acids (either from food, drinks or the stomach e.g. due to sickness or regurgitation) on the tooth's enamel surface.

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What causes acid wear?

Frequent consumption of food and drinks with a high acid content can cause acid wear.

When tooth enamel is exposed to acids (from food, drinks or the stomach), it temporarily softens. Saliva helps neutralise acidity to restore the mouth's natural balance and slowly re-harden the softened tooth enamel. However, because the tooth's recovery process is slow, if exposure to acid happens frequently, the tooth may be vulnerable to wear and tear known as acid wear.

Wine, orange juice and various fruits can be highly acidic and therefore potentially contribute to acid wear. Acidic foods should not and cannot be easily avoided, but care needs to be taken as to when and how often they are consumed.

It is not just what is consumed that may cause acid wear, but also the way that acidic items are held within the mouth. Holding or retaining acidic food or drinks in the mouth prolongs the teeth's exposure to acid, therefore increasing the risk of wear. Swilling an acidic drink, for example, can increase the acidic drink's contact with the tooth or teeth, again increasing the risk of wear.

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What foods are deemed acidic?

Follow our guide to which foods are the most acidic:

Red - Highly acidic | Orange - Slightly acidic | Grey - Neutral

Breakfast:

Hot Breakfast (bacon, sausage and egg)
Cereal (with milk)
Toast

Bananas

Grapefruit
Strawberry jam
Honey

Lunch:

Peanut butter on brown bread
Pitta bread, black olives and tuna

Tomato soup
Jacket potato and beans

Meat pie with tomato sauce
Salad with vinegar dressing

Dinner:

Lobster and rice
Poached salmon and broccoli

Hamburger
Chicken and chips

Steak with mustard
Tomato salad with balsamic dressing

Dessert:

Cheese board
Chocolate cake

Eclairs

Fruit salad
Rhubarb

Drinks:

Milk
Tea

Beer

Red wine
Fresh orange juice

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Acid Wear: Effects

How does acid wear affect teeth?

Light adjusted.

Acid wear can affect the appearance of the tooth. Changes in lustre and texture and increased translucency can be signs of the effects of acid wear.

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How quickly can the effects of acid wear occur?

There are many factors however which contribute to acid wear, most notably the frequency and concentration of acidic foods or drinks and the length of contact with the teeth and the volume of an individual's saliva. Everyone's lifestyles, consumption habits and teeth are different and all can affect the rate at which acid wear affects teeth.

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Acid Wear: Those Affected

Is the number of people affected by acid wear increasing?

Yes, the number of people showing signs of acid wear is rising due to the number of people keeping their natural teeth for longer, combined with the acidity in the modern diet.

In the 20th Century, dental diseases, for example tooth decay and gum disease, were widespread. This greatly affected the life span of teeth and meant that the majority did not retain their teeth for life.

Improved oral hygiene and restorative treatments have extended the life span of teeth in the 21st Century. However, as teeth are lasting longer they are subject to the effects of wear, particularly from acids and tooth brushing over a longer time period.

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Who is most likely to be affected by acid wear?

Experts agree that nearly everybody with natural teeth will develop some signs of acid wear.

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Can children have acid wear?

Milk teeth are very much at risk from acid wear because they are less mineralised and therefore the enamel is softer than adult teeth to begin with. Therefore great care should be taken with the acidic content of a child’s diet.

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Is it true that acid wear is something that people should not worry about until they are older?

No because experts agree that nearly everybody with natural teeth will develop some signs of acid wear.

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Acid Wear: Prevention

What can be done to help prevent acid wear?

Continue to consume acidic foods and drinks as part of a sensibly managed and balanced diet, while remembering to:

• Consume acid-containing foods and drinks quickly to limit the time they are in contact with your teeth.
• Not suck or chew on fruit for prolonged periods of time.
• Drink acidic drinks through a straw, and don't hold the liquid in your mouth or swish it around.
• Drink plenty of water to maintain hydration levels as part of an active lifestyle.
• Avoid brushing your teeth straight after consuming acid-containing meals or drinks, when enamel is softest.
• Use a soft toothbrush to minimise wear from brushing.
• Follow the advice of your dental professional and have regular dental checks.

Brush your teeth gently, but thoroughly in a circular motion, twice a day with PRONAMEL or PRONAMEL GENTLE WHITENING toothpaste and toothbrush.

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What are the long term consequences of acid wear?

If acid wear is untreated it can contribute to the wear and tear of the tooth structure. This can lead to tooth erosion, resulting in an irreversible loss of enamel. Therefore, it is very important to protect teeth from acid wear in the early stages.

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Acid Wear: A Modern Phenomenon?

Why is acid wear only now becoming a problem?

In the 20th Century, dental diseases, for example tooth decay and gum disease, were widespread. This greatly affected the life span of teeth and meant that the majority did not retain their teeth for life.

Improved oral hygiene and restorative treatments have extended the life span of teeth in the 21st Century. However, as teeth are lasting longer they are subject to the effects of wear, particularly from acids and tooth brushing for prolonged time periods.

What is more, people’s expectations have changed and today they expect to keep their teeth healthy and looking good for longer.

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How long have dentists known acid wear is a problem?

Dentists learn about acid wear resulting in tooth wear at dental school, however in the past they will have encountered it less frequently. Now, as teeth are being retained for longer, dentists are increasingly seeing signs of acid wear and are beginning to become aware of the problem it poses in the 21st Century. As such they are having to be increasingly vigilant in looking out for the early stages of acid wear.

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PRONAMEL^® from the makers of Sensodyne

How does PRONAMEL protect teeth from acid wear?

PRONAMEL toothpaste has been specifically developed as a product for oral hygiene that protects teeth from the effects of acid wear. It works in a number of ways:

• Its optimised fluoride formula rehardens acid softened tooth enamel to protect against acid wear
• It contains fluoride to protect teeth against tooth decay (1450ppm sodium fluoride)
• It has a neutral pH.
• Its gentle cleaning ingredients effectively clean teeth and freshen breath.
• The low abrasive formula is suitable for daily use.

NEW PRONAMEL GENTLE WHITENING has been specifically formulated to protect teeth from acid wear by rehardening acid softened tooth enamel while gently and effectively removing stains, to restore teeth to their natural whiteness. Pronamel Gentle Whitening provides all the benefits of a regular toothpaste, protects against tooth decay and can therefore be used as your daily toothpaste.

Brush your teeth gently, but thoroughly in a circular motion, twice a day with PRONAMEL or PRONAMEL GENTLE WHITENING toothpaste and toothbrush

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How often do I need to use PRONAMEL for it to be effective?

PRONAMEL should be used twice a day, every day, in place of your regular toothpaste. Brushing with PRONAMEL will help to protect your teeth from the effects of acid wear.

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Does PRONAMEL repair tooth enamel?

Once tooth enamel is lost, it cannot be replaced. PRONAMEL's optimised fluoride formula rehardens temporarily softened enamel, to help protect your teeth from the effects of acid wear.

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Do I need to use a regular toothpaste alongside PRONAMEL?

No, PRONAMEL is a new toothpaste that provides all the benefits of a regular toothpaste: contains fluoride to fight cavities, freshens breath and cleans teeth. For maximum effectiveness, PRONAMEL should be used twice a day, every day, in place of your regular toothpaste.

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What sort of toothbrush should I use to minimise acid wear?

Always use a soft toothbrush to minimise wear from brushing. PRONAMEL toothbrush has greater coverage than a regular brush for a more effective clean. It is designed to be gentle on tooth enamel. Its flexible gel pad holds brush bristles to provide effective cleaning. Micro-fine bristle ends are gentle on tooth enamel.

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Does PRONAMEL do everything my normal toothpaste will?

Yes, PRONAMEL provides all the benefits of a regular toothpaste. As well as helping to protect teeth against acid wear, it contains fluoride to fight cavities. It also freshens breath and cleans teeth.

The PRONAMEL range now includes PRONAMEL GENTLE WHITENING, which protects teeth against acid wear, whilst gently and effectively removing stains to help restore teeth to their natural whiteness

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Are there any side effects from using PRONAMEL?

There are no side-effects that we are aware of but as with other toothpastes, if irritation occurs discontinue use of PRONAMEL.

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