Does GERD cause tooth erosion?

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a relatively common condition, in which stomach acid may be refluxed up through the esophagus and into the oral cavity, resulting in enamel erosion.

How does GERD cause dental erosion?

It is recognized that refluxed acid first attacks the palatal surfaces of the upper incisor teeth. Later, if the condition continues, erosion of the occlusal surfaces of the posterior teeth in both arches and the labial or buccal surfaces results from the extended period of acid reflux.

Can you have GERD and silent reflux at the same time?

Some people have GERD with no LPR symptoms at all. Similarly, it’s possible to have LPR without ever experiencing traditional heartburn. Technically, LPR does involve the reflux of gastric acid into and then past the esophagus into the larynx. For many people, these two conditions and their symptoms occur together.

Can silent reflux damage your teeth?

Acid reflux can wear away the enamel on the inside surfaces of your teeth, as well as the chewing surfaces. Your dentist may notice this during an exam.

What causes tooth erosion at gum line?

The two possible causes of wear at the gumline are abrasion and abfraction. Abrasion is caused by overzealous brushing or using a stiff-bristle toothbrush. You may think that scrubbing your teeth gets them extra clean, but you could be damaging your teeth by using too much force.

What is the difference between silent reflux and GERD?

When acid reflux leads to persistent heartburn, occurring maybe twice a week for 3 weeks or more, this is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Silent reflux, or laryngeal-pharyngeal reflux (LPR), is similar, but without the heartburn and indigestion.

Is silent reflux the same as GERD?

Silent reflux symptoms in adults are not the same as GERD because of the part of the anatomy the acid is affecting. The acid is targeting the larynx, rather than the esophagus, making the diagnosis more difficult because the symptoms present as a cough.

Can a dentist tell if you have acid reflux?

A dentist may be able to tell a patient has acid reflux, even if the patient doesn’t know. When the dentist sees enamel on his patient’s molars or tongue-side of the teeth eroding, this will lead to discussion about the cause, possibly reflux.

Can a silent refluxer cause tooth erosion?

The increasing prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children and adults, and of “silent refluxers” in particular, increases the responsibility of dentists to be alert to this potentially severe condition when observing unexplained instances of tooth erosion.

What is the rate of tooth erosion in GERD patients?

A recent systematic review found a median prevalence of 24% for tooth erosion in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and a median prevalence of 32.5% for GERD in adult patients who had tooth erosion [7].

Can a silent Reflux Symptom be caused by inflammation?

Whatever other symptoms you have, if it can be caused by inflammation in the airways, then it can be a silent reflux symptom. It is important to understand that Silent Reflux is caused by a combination of acid and the stomach enzyme pepsin. This is why it is unlikely that blocking the acid alone is going to help you. P.S.:

Can a recurring ear infection be silent reflux?

Also, recurring infections of your ears can be an LPR symptom. You see, LPR can cause a lot of different problems. The more of the symptoms listed above that you have over a long time, the higher the chances are that silent reflux is the reason. The symptoms that I showed you are only the ones most commonly associated with reflux.