GERD stands for GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease. It’s most commonly referred to as acid reflux.
Acid reflux occurs when the muscles at the lower end of your esophagus that allow food into your stomach relax at the wrong time. This allows your stomach acid to creep back up into your esophagus, causing heart burn. Chronic acid reflux can lead to GERD. GERD is a chronic problem.
What Causes Acid Reflux?
It’s a weak esophageal sphincter that allows for the acids and other contents to back up into the esophagus and your mouth.
There are a few things than can cause this weakness, including:
- Overeating
- An unhealthy weight
- Pregnancy
- Wearing tight clothing around your midriff
- Smoking (or regular exposure to secondhand smoke)
- Hiatal hernia (part of the stomach protrudes into the diaphragm muscle)
- Certain foods can also trigger acid reflux, including:
- Fried food
- Fatty food
- Spicy food
- Citrus
- Chocolate
- Tomatoes
- Raw onions
- Coffee
- Carbonated beverages
- Alcohol
Some medications can also trigger acid reflux.
What are Symptoms of Acid Reflux?
The most common symptoms are acid indigestion and heartburn. These are going to hit everybody from time to time. But if it’s happening more than twice a week, you might have acid reflux.
Other symptoms include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tooth erosion and bad breath
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Respiratory problems
- Abdominal pain
Does Acid Reflux Impact Oral Health?
Yes.
As noted above, tooth erosion is a symptom of acid reflux. So what’s happening is that the enamel on the inside surfaces of your teeth and the chewing surfaces of your teeth are getting worn away. That’s a huge problem because tooth erosion is permanent.
When the enamel goes, you have to deal with these:
- Pain or sensitivity when drinking hot, cold, or sweet beverages
- A yellowish discoloration of the teeth.
- Fillings that have changed.
- Greater risk for cavities over time.
- The development of an abscess (in extreme cases)
- Tooth loss (in extreme cases)
How Do You Treat Acid Reflux?
Good news. It’s usually pretty simple to manage acid reflux with antacids and over-the-counter meds. Plus, you can make some lifestyle changes as part of the management process:
- Quit smoking
- Eat smaller meals
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Avoid trigger foods (like the ones listed above)
- Avoid wearing tight clothing around your midriff
- Move around after you eat
Specifically, for your oral care, you can chew gum. Chewing sugar-free gum can encourage saliva production, which helps neutralize and wash away the acids in your mouth. Choose gum that has the ADA Seal of Acceptance.
If medications and lifestyle changes don’t do the trick, surgery may be an option. Surgery for acid reflux involves the reinforcing of the lower esophageal sphincter.
And, as always, keep up those regular dental visits. It’s your dentist who may be the first to identify your acid reflux based on how any tooth erosion is manifesting.
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