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Home Patient Information Dental Blog What Antacids Do to Your Teeth

What Antacids Do to Your Teeth


Posted on 11/30/2018 by Barbara Ketchum
What Antacids Do to Your TeethIf you need to take antacids for an upset stomach or other gastrointestinal problems, you could be creating a problem for your teeth.

Antacids are usually flavored and contain added sugars to make them easy to chew, which can damage your teeth, especially if you take them in the middle of the night and don't brush immediately after.

Antacids and Tooth Decay

People like sweet medications they can quickly chew. While taking these medications is more convenient when on the go and they taste better, they can cause severe damage to your teeth, including tooth decay. Sugars in food or things like medicine, cause acid that weakens the tooth's enamel.

This can cause bacteria to produce plaque that will attach to your teeth. Plaque causes the gums to separate from the teeth, which can cause the loosening of teeth and eventually tooth loss.

Antacids Affect Teeth Strength

We need healthy teeth to keep the dentist away. Even though we love to see you, it is best if we only do twice per year. Chewing on antacids can not only hurt you because of the sugar in the tablets. They can make your body increase acid production to compensate. Antacids limit calcium and protein absorption.

These are essential nutrients your teeth need to stay strong and healthy. Calcium is necessary for jawbone health as well. Once you start losing bone, the situation could become irreversible, and you could need several uncomfortable procedures to restore it.

As with any other oral health problem, it's essential to determine and control the underlying reason for the condition. Acidity in the mouth due to acid reflux is detrimental to your oral health, but chewing on antacids can create its own set of problems.

Trying to limit the production of acid your body makes naturally may result in the opposite effect and damage your teeth and jawbone.
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