One of the systemic diseases we can sometimes identify by our dental examinations is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD. GERD is an entity whereby stomach acid comes up through the esophagus and into the mouth. The acid, now in the saliva can cause the normal neutral PH of the saliva, which is usually about 6.7, to go down to the acidic level of about 4.9. There are many times when our office has been the first to help diagnosis this based on our routine examinations.
With this more acidic saliva it can weaken the enamel and cause chemical erosion and look like the photos in this article. When we see this, we usually recommend that the patient see a gastroenterologist who will usually perform an endoscopy to confirm the diagnosis. Since scarring of the esophagus is a potential serious consequence the medical doctor will usually give a prescription for one of the proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole or one of the others in this class that usually end in -“azole”. These medications shut down excess acid production by the stomach. The doctor will usually also recommend eating smaller meals, avoid alcohol, stop eating at least 3 hrs. before bedtime and minimize eating spicy foods or ones that can trigger this.
(The information contained in this article is strictly for educational purposes and is not meant to replace the professional knowledge or advice of your personal physician/dentist.)
