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.”
For more information go to:
http://dentistry.about.com/b/2009/05/11/acid-reflux-related-to-poor-dental-health-in-children.htm
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