Almost one-third of children and teenagers show dental erosion, a US study has found.
Dental researcher Bennett Amaechi of the University of Texas, San Antonio, and colleagues at Indiana University and the University of California at San Francisco examined 900 Texas middle school students ages 10 to 14 and found a 30% prevalence rate of dental erosion.
The study, published in the Dental Tribune, said dental erosion is caused by acids found in carbonated soft drinks, some fruit juices, sports drinks and herbal teas.
‘Because of the high acidity, when you drink it and keep it a little bit long in the mouth, it wears away the tooth surface and causes tooth wear,’ said Dr Amaechi.
"It is important for dental practitioners to identify dental erosion and its causes before it is too late," Amaechi said.
‘Because dental erosion creates a smooth and shiny appearance of the enamel and causes no pain or sensitivity in its early stages, most patients are not aware that they are suffering from the condition.
‘Therefore, the responsibility of early detection and treatment falls on the professionals.
