Acid Reflux Related to Poor Dental Health in Children
The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) recently presented the findings of their study that examined the relationship between acid reflux and dental health in children, at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Baltimore, Md, May 4, 2009. According to the study, children that have symptoms of chronic acid reflux are more than likely to have dental erosion, a condition where the enamel layer of the tooth has been worn away by acids, revealing the dentin layer of the tooth. Dental erosion causes the enamel to weaken, resulting in tooth sensitivity and increase the risk for tooth decay.
This study in particular is the first to examine the relationship between the two conditions in pediatric patients, and is also the first to find a connection between chronic acid reflux and dental erosion in patients of any age group. Studies conducted in the past produced inconsistent results, according to senior author Melvin Heyman, MD, chief of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at UCSF Children's Hospital. In this press release, Dr. Heyman states that "These findings demonstrate that we really need to start looking for dental erosion in pediatric patients with chronic acid reflux and integrate proper dental care into their treatment regimens."
The study compared the dental health of patients aged 9 to 17 with symptoms consistent with GERD, to children with no symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The children with GERD were almost six times more likely to have eroded teeth than the children without acid reflux. What does this mean for children with GERD? Research assistant and co-author of the study, Ann Clark, BS, states that "Having shown that there is a positive correlation between GERD and dental erosion, we must now try to determine exactly what causes children with reflux to develop these erosion's."
It is obvious that detecting chronic acid reflux in children is key to preventing the long term damage on the teeth associated with dental erosion and GERD. If you suspect your child may have the symptoms consistent with acid reflux, please see your doctor.
Comments
There are so many lifestyle modifications that can reduce or mitigate the impact of nighttime acid indigestion:
Not eating at least two hours before going to bed. This is hard to do with children and their desserts.
Raising the head of a set of bedding by 4″ or 6″ will allow gravity to help keep gastric contents in their place while sleeping. This lifestyle modification is the easiest to introduce and maintain.
Losing weight. Hard to maintain.
I would assume that most of the damage of GERD is occurring at night. There is less saliva produced (which contains a natural bicarbonate), lying flat does not allow gravity to help keep the stomach’s contents in their place and the patient does not react to stimuli as actively as when awake.
This leads to increased and prolonged exposure to stomach acid, often without the patient knowing that it is taking place.
well thank you ed for the tips. Very informative article. Thanks for posting!
Great information Ed!
Good presentation of medical facts.thanks !
I don’t understand. So while she’s sleeping, my 3 year old (who has acid reflux) is potentially experiencing something that damages her teeth?
My nine yr.old daughter just returned from the dentist today with many cavities. I have taken her to the dentist every 6 months since she was one yr. old., and she always received a great report on her dental health. Unfortunately, her acid reflux has done quite a number on her in the past few months, so much that she has three cavities and massive erosion. I should add that she flosses daily and brushes morning and before bed. They will have to pull some of her teeth….very sickening to me! Her prevacid (prescribed for reflux) obviously has not been doing the trick. She has been complaining of mouth ulcers and tummy aches here lately, as well, but I did not put it together.
Be cautious parents!