If you suffer from chronic acid reflux, you may be more prone to developing dental problems than those who don't have this condition, as the regurgitated stomach acid that flows up your oesophagus and into your throat and mouth can destroy your tooth enamel. Here are two tips for preventing dental issues if you have this condition.

1. Rinse before you brush

For most people, rinsing out their mouths with mouthwash is the last stage of their oral hygiene routine. However, if you suffer from acid reflux, it is better to rinse first before you brush and floss. The reason for this is as follows: if your stomach acid is seeping into your mouth periodically throughout the day, there will be some of this acidic residue on the surface of your teeth when you begin your oral hygiene routine.

If you start brushing your teeth whilst they are covered in this highly corrosive acid, you may actually end up inflicting permanent damage on your tooth enamel, as you will be scrubbing the acid across each tooth's surface. If you do this twice a day for several weeks or months, you will eventually destroy the enamel, which could then leave the sensitive and weaker layer underneath it (known as 'dentin') exposed.

Instead, you should swish some mouthwash around your mouth before you begin brushing. This will remove most of the residual stomach acid and thus minimise the amount of damage your toothbrush does when you begin brushing.

2. Go for quarterly dental check-ups

If a person does not have acid reflux and is generally in good health, they don't need to go for dental check-ups more than twice a year. However, if you have this condition, you should consider having your teeth and gums checked by your dentist on a quarterly basis.

The reason for this is that, as mentioned above, acid reflux can cause enamel erosion. When this strong outer layer wears away, a tooth is far more susceptible to decay and cavities. If you visit your dentist frequently, they will be able to see and treat any decay and small cavities before these issues evolve into ones which could put you at risk of things like abscesses and tooth loss.

Conversely, if you wait leave six months between each check-up appointment, your teeth may deteriorate to the point where you require major dental treatments or need to have one or more of them extracted.

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