Did you know that burping, in addition to being rude, can damage your teeth? Burping can also be painful and is one of the signs of acid reflux, heartburn, and GERD.
You may know that GERD can damage your teeth because it causes stomach acid to wash up into your mouth, but what can burping do? The occasional burp isn’t that bad, but if you frequently burp, that damage will start to add up.
It Releases Stomach Acid
While burping may not bring up a huge amount of stomach acid, it does contain some of this damaging liquid. That means every type you burp, you’re covering the back of your teeth with stomach acid. That acid starts to eat away at the enamel of the teeth, leaving them unprotected from bacteria. Those who burp a lot may find that they have more cavities than they might expect, especially if they don’t brush or use mouthwash after burping.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Teeth?
Fortunately, there are some things you can do to protect your teeth from the damage burping can cause. The first thing you can do is to eat and drink more slowly. This reduces the chance that you’ll get too much air in your stomach. This air can cause you to burp more often, so by slowing down, you can decrease how frequently you burp.
There are also some foods that cause gas to build up in your stomach and digestive track. These foods, which include cabbage, beans, and Brussels sprouts, all cause you to burp more. Soda can do this, too. Cut these foods and drinks out of your diet so you won’t burp as often.
If you burp often, you may have damage to your teeth that you don’t even realize. Call today to schedule an appointment so we can give you an exam and let you know if your burping is an issue.