Healthy Finland Survey: Tooth erosion threatens oral health – caries and gum diseases remain common
Tooth erosion is very common in adults. Erosion was studied extensively in Finland for the first time in the Healthy Finland population survey.
As many as 71% of people in Finland had minor tooth erosion, and 17% had at least moderate tooth erosion. Minor erosion is very common even in the youngest age groups: it occurs in 53% of women aged 20–34 and as many as 78% of men.
Erosion refers to the dissolution of the tooth enamel and corrosion of the teeth. Acidic drinks, such as energy and sports drinks, soften and dissolve the tooth enamel and cause erosion especially powerfully. Erosion may also be caused by acidic stomach fluid in the mouth in conditions such as reflux esophagitis or eating disorders, such as bulimia.
"The tooth enamel does not regenerate, so lost tissue cannot be recovered. Once the enamel has worn off, the softer dentine is exposed, and it erodes even faster than the enamel. This may cause the teeth to be highly sensitive," says Professor Liisa Suominen, who was responsible for the oral and dental health research section of the Healthy Finland Survey.
"The teeth becoming lower as a result of erosion and the exposure of the yellow dentine also affects the bite and causes aesthetic damage," Suominen adds.
Erosion is also caused by many otherwise healthy foods, such as most fruits and berries.
You can prevent tooth erosion by consuming acidic foods and drinks only at mealtimes and rinsing your mouth with water or milk after eating. You can prevent both erosion and caries with regular mealtimes, brushing with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste twice a day, and using xylitol products after a meal. However, you should not brush your teeth immediately after eating or drinking acidic products: preferably brush your teeth before a meal or at least 30 minutes after it.
"The treatment of erosion is expensive and time-consuming. That is why the most important thing would be to prevent damage from occurring in the first place or intervene as early as possible if damage has already occurred. Advanced erosion damage can be remedied with composite filling or by crowning the teeth," Suominen explains.
Dental and oral diseases are linked to infections and other diseases
According to the Healthy Finland Survey, as many as 74% of adults have at least one deepened gingival pocket of four millimetres, and 39% have at least one tooth with caries.
Deepened gingival pockets indicate periodontitis, a disease of the dental connective tissue. It has been found to be linked to many other national diseases in Finland, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
"Filling teeth and replacing old fillings consumes the resources of oral health care the most and is also expensive for the patient. However, untreated teeth problems can cause very serious infections that may even require intensive care at a hospital. It is important to prevent oral diseases by diligent self-care and visiting a professional at regular intervals based on individual needs," says Chief Dentist Ulla Harjunmaa, the other head researcher of the oral health section of Healthy Finland.
Two in five adults are afraid of visiting dental care services
One reason for not always seeking oral health examination and treatment in time is the fear of dental care. According to the Healthy Finland Survey, as many as 40% of adults find visiting dental care services at least somewhat frightening.
"You should not skip dental care out of fear, as fears can be alleviated and treated in many ways. If the thought of dental care is frightening, it is a good idea to bring this up when booking the appointment or when arriving at the appointment, at the latest. All oral health care professionals are trained to approach fear as part of their basic studies, and this is familiar to them in their everyday work," Liisa Suominen and Ulla Harjunmaa say.
The clinical examination and survey on oral and dental care were carried out in 2023. A little under 2,000 adults aged 20 or over living in Finland participated in the survey.
Source:
Oral health survey, online report, Results of the Healthy Finland Survey (in Finnish)
Further information:
Ulla Harjunmaa
Chief Dentist
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)
Tel. +358 29 524 7375
[email protected]
Liisa Suominen
Professor
University of Eastern Finland
Tel. +358 40 355 2442
[email protected]
