dental advice sought - how to protect teeth from reflux acid ?

[gingeroots]

Or am I worrying unnecessarily anyway ?

Sorry to bore on about this ,but I really want to keep my not v.healthy teeth as much as possible . I already have " significant/extensive bone loss " with lots of receeding gum .

Have had oesphageous removed ,new one created out of a resized stomach . Take PPI's ,bed raised at head ,sleep propped up ,but still sometimes get acid ( very ouchy burny ) at back of throat + episodes of regurgitation and one bad episode of vomiting what felt like battery acid .

Of course I'm hoping this will improve and discussing with medics - but I'm worried it will further damage teeth and wonder how to ameliorate .

Plus due for more chemo soon .

any advice ?

PPIs will help as will all the measures you are taking. The only other advice is NOT to brush your teeth first thing in the morning. Leave it until at least an hour after you get up. If reflux acid is softening teeth then they are at their most vunerable in the morning to damage from brushing. A fluoride mouthwash (Colgate do a good one that isn't unpleasant) could be used to freshen your mouth but don't brush. You can then clean your teeth when they have had time to harden up ( saliva does this naturally).

ask your dentist about flouride treatment.
it's a fluid that is painted on and then hardened with uv light I think.
or maybe sealing of some teeth might be usefull?

Thank you all .Finally managed to get myself to dentist .
He says teeth not looking too bad .

He recommends Colgate fluoride mouthwash as suggested upthread and quick rinsing with milk ( followed by water ) after the upchucking episodes .
Feeling more positive now
Thanks for replies .It's nice not to be alone with stuff .

Dentists can prescribe extra-high fluoride content toothpastes (eg Colgate Duraphat) that you clean with at night as normal but don't rinse off. Best wishes.

Thanks atlast ,he didn't suggest . But I think he's a bit money conscious

I have reflux & acid problems and had the same conversation with my dentist. He was really reassuring, said that as I was taking antacids the calcium in those could sit on the teeth and help counteract the erosion (assuming he meant the acid would attack that calcium first).

Teeth have been fine but I am careful about cleaning with decent toothpaste and always use the Total Listerine (but have a bit of a phobia about dentists anyway).

Thats interesting Mam ,are you taking antacids though ,as opposed to PPI s like ranatadine ,omeprazole . PPIs are supposed to work by supressing acid production rather than neutralising it and I dont think have any calcium .

I only ask because I was a bit surprised when my v good hospital dietician seemed to think they were the same .Not that I corrected her ,my understanding could be wrong .