London - Sugary snacks and too much fruit juice are well-known risk factors for tooth decay. But there are other apparently innocent activities that could be damaging our teeth.
Earlier this month, it was suggested that exercise could be bad for teeth — dentists at University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany, found the longer athletes exercised, the less saliva they produced and the more alkaline it became.
Alkaline saliva encourages the growth of plaque bacteria, and for every extra hour of training each week, the researchers found there was an increased risk of having decayed or missing teeth.
“Every day we do things or are exposed to situations that can have an impact on our teeth,” says Dr Stephen Pitt of the Dental Studio, Colchester, Essex.
So what could be putting your teeth or jaw at risk?
Drinking tea to warm you up
Drinking something hot after coming in from the cold may cause cracks in the surface of the teeth.
These superficial cracks, barely visible to the naked eye, are caused by rapid changes in temperature.
Teeth are made of a yellowish bulky material called dentine, which is covered with enamel. When a tooth is exposed to a sudden temperature change, this can stress the enamel and result in a crack.
Usually cracks are only a cosmetic problem, as they can become stained by coffee or red wine. However, if they become deeper and enter the dentine, this can cause sensitivity. A severe crack may also damage the pulp or nerve within the tooth, causing infection or an abscess.
“This happens only if you are frequently exposed to extremes of temperature, so the effects are cumulative, like constantly stepping on ice until it gives way,” says Dr Pitt.
You can limit the change in temperature for your teeth during cold weather by wearing a scarf over your mouth, as this will warm the air you breathe.
The same kind of problem can be caused by crunching the ice in your drink, says Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association.
When you chew ice, you’re creating a sudden change in temperature, stressing the enamel, which in turn can cause small cracks.
Swimming with your mouth open
Swimming in pools in which chlorine content hasn’t been carefully regulated may lead to dental erosion — loss of hard tissue from the surface of the tooth. It may also leave teeth discoloured and more sensitive.
Chlorine reacts with water to produce a weak form of hydrochloric acid, which can wear down teeth, says Professor Walmsley.
Researchers from the New York University College of Dentistry found pools that are not properly maintained can cause severe and rapid erosion of dental enamel.
Pools should have their chlorine levels checked regularly. While swimming, keep your mouth closed to avoid exposing teeth to chlorinated water.
Using hay fever remedies
Antihistamines used for allergies such as hay fever can cause a dry mouth, which can lead to tooth decay in the long term.
They work by blocking histamine — a chemical released by the immune system when the body is under attack.
“However, in blocking receptors for histamine, the drug can have an effect on receptors elsewhere in the body, such as those on the tongue and in the mouth,” says Stephen Foster, a community pharmacist from Kent, who specialises in allergies and respiratory conditions.This may affect the release of saliva, causing a dry mouth.
As well as being uncomfortable, dry mouth can lead to gum disease as the gums pull away from the teeth, and form “pockets” that become infected. Teeth eventually loosen and can even fall out.
Chewing sugarless gum and sipping water may help boost saliva production.
Opening packets with your teeth
Using your teeth to hold knitting needles or biting off threads can make dents in the front teeth known as a tailor’s notch, says Tara Renton, professor of oral surgery at King’s College, London.
Biting nails or tearing packets open with your teeth rather than finding the scissors can also put huge stress on the front teeth and can lead to cracks, says Nicola Owen, of the Dental Health Centre in Manchester.
The tooth can be restored using small fillings.
Brushing straight after eating
Acids and sugars produced when we eat weaken the protective enamel temporarily, so if you clean your teeth straight after eating, you are brushing away at the enamel before it hardens again, says dentist Dr Phil Stemmer, of the Fresh Breath Centre in London.
“Wait at least half an hour — or even better, brush your teeth before meals to remove bacteria that feed off the food, and then freshen up after eating using an alcohol-free mouthwash.” And fight the urge to rinse after cleaning your teeth, as it washes away the protective fluoride coating left by the toothpaste.
Taking the contraceptive pill
Some progesterone-only birth control pills could make gums inflamed and more likely to bleed.
“They increase levels of hormones such as progesterone, much in the same way as pregnancy does,” says dentist Dr Jeremy Hill, of the Ware Centre of Dental Excellence in Hertfordshire.
“It is thought these hormones cause an exaggerated reaction to dental plaque, triggering inflammation,” he says. “This is also why pregnant women may have inflamed gums that bleed when brushed.” Changing to a lower progesterone Pill may help.
While there is no treatment for the inflammation, good dental care will minimise it.
“It may also be useful to use antiseptic mouthwash that will help to prevent plaque forming,” says Dr Hill.
Flying when you’ve got fillings
Air travel can trigger pain in a tooth that hasn’t previously bothered you, says Luke Cascarini, consultant oral surgeon at the Sloane BMI Hospital in Kent.
“Changes in altitude can cause tiny pockets of air to become trapped in deep fillings or collect in areas of decay. This air is trapped at a different pressure to cabin pressure, which is why it causes pain,” he says.
“The same could happen when mountain climbing or skiing.”
Have a check-up before you go away to check you don’t need any fillings. The pain should dissipate within a few hours of landing — but see a dentist if it persists.
Being a chatterbox
Talking non-stop can cause wear and tear on the jaw and even lead to arthritis in the joint, says Mr Cascarini, who also works at Guy’s Hospital in London.
“Constant movement of the jaw can wear out the joint. I recently treated a lady who had no obvious reasons for arthritis other than she was extremely talkative — by her own admission.
“The jaw joint is a complex joint and probably the most used in the human body. Around one in four people will have a problem in the jaw joints.”
Treatment for arthritis in the jaw can involve a replacement of both joints.
Putting aspirin on a sore tooth
Applying a crushed-up aspirin tablet straight to the mouth is a common DIY remedy — the idea is that it directly attacks the source of the pain.
But applying it directly to the surface of an aching tooth may burn the soft, sensitive tissues in your mouth, says Mr Cascarini. If you have toothache, aspirin may indeed help — but only if swallowed.
Using an asthma inhaler
Asthma inhalers usually contain an aerosol form of medication known as beta agonists, which work by relaxing the muscles surrounding the airways, making it easier to breathe.
However, studies in Australia and Scandinavia have linked the drug to an increased risk of tooth decay, because it is slightly acidic. The key is to make sure that the medication doesn’t touch the teeth.
“If used properly in an inhaler, there is no reason why the drug should do so,” says Stephen Spiro, professor of respiratory medicine at University College London.
Some inhalers that contain the drug as a powder also contain lactose, a milk sugar, to improve its taste. But if residue from the powder is left on the teeth, it could contribute to decay.
“Changes begin with brown areas, no bigger than a pinprick, on the inside of the teeth,” says Dr Mervyn Druian, of the London Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry.
After using your inhaler, rinse your mouth with water.
Taking up scuba diving
Scuba diving can lead to jaw joint pain, gum tissue problems or tooth pain symptoms known as “diver’s mouth syndrome” says Professor Walmsley.
This is caused by clamping on the mouthpiece and by the air pressure change involved in diving. - Daily Mail