Dental Erosion, GERD, and Salivary Stimulation
Abstract
Jeff Burgess
Previously published research has linked gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) with tooth erosion. Additional reports suggest that saliva and salivation may mediate the effects of acid refluxed into the esophagus and mouth. This article briefly reviews GERD and presents results from a study suggesting that increasing salivation during sleep may significantly improve symptoms associated with the condition, including morning hoarseness, reflux acid taste, night time heartburn, and perceived reflux. The results also have important implications for dentists treating dental erosion resulting from GERD and offer another treatment remedy that can be combined with dental restorative care and medical intervention to manage erosion. This study demonstrates that use of an OTC dry mouth product specifically designed for use during sleep, such as OraCoat XyliMelts, may be of potential benefit in reducing stomach acid that causes dental erosion.