The Sour Truth About Tooth Erosion

Michael Nash. The old office became the guest suite/mother’s suite with a newly-added full bathroom. The new bath was designed with a glass block transom and given a black and white Art Deco aesthetic, featuring beaded wall panels, a furniture style vanity and walk-in shower. Finally, a doorway was made to accommodate a Moroccan hand-carved door, keystone molding and Middle Eastern hanging lights.

In the family room, new windows were added while others were closed up, a new fireplace was added to the center of the left wall of the two-story space and the wall was covered with floor-to-ceiling stone veneer. Overhead, a new chandelier beautified the space.

The kitchen was, by far, the home’s biggest problem and one that almost deterred the couple from purchasing the house from the offset. The space was narrow and tight and had limited lighting, so the new design plan called for the removal of several major bearing walls to open the kitchen into the adjacent family room and sunroom. The back of the kitchen was bumped out and given a new five-foot-deep addition with a massive picture window, allowing generous natural light into the room.

Widening the kitchen allowed for the reconfiguring of cabinetry and also made room for a large island with a 48inch gas range top and recessed hood. The south wall became home to a large stainless-steel fridge and freezer, espresso maker, double oven and more storage space. “We had to install four major steel beams and supporting poles from the basement up to structurally allow this addition and open up the kitchen,” says Nazemian.

A set of French doors was added to the sunroom, leading to a new stone outdoor patio and fireplace. The old laundry room and coat closet were demolished, then re-created into a new mudroom space with locker-style cabinets and a large walkin space for the couple’s future wine cabinets. The side of the mudroom was fitted with a new door, while a side porch and steps were added to lead to the driveway as the couple’s main point of entry to the house.

As avid entertainers, the couple greatly needed outdoor entertaining space. To accommodate their frequent gatherings, a large screened-in porch was built just off the interior kitchen and installed with a full outdoor kitchen, all covered with Middle Eastern hand-painted floral tile and a contrasting porcelain tile floor. The walls are brick, with a ceiling of beaded paneling adding a sense of warmth to the space. “Now that their home is complete, the owners love to throw parties for friends and family both indoors and out,” says Nazemian.

pucker up, buttercup

THE SOUR TRUTH ABOUT TOOTH EROSION

Story by Liesel Schmidt

When sour or acidic food breaks down enamel, it lowers the teeth's natural guard. When this happens, teeth can change color, can be more susceptible to bacteria or causes of infection and can erode.

If that sounds bad, it’s because it is. Think about this long term—tooth erosion is permanent. A few signs that your enamel has started to wear away include: • Pain or sensitivity when consuming hot, cold or sweet drinks • Yellowish discoloration of the teeth • Change in your fillings • Experiencing more cavities over time • Development of an abscess (in very extreme cases) • Tooth loss (in very extreme cases)

Once erosion occurs, you may need fillings, crowns, a root canal or tooth extraction. Veneers may also be an option to consider as you restore damaged teeth.

Need a cheat sheet to help you navigate the wild world of acidic foods and beverages to watch out for? An easy rule of thumb is to limit intake of citrus or citrusflavored, carbonated or sour foods.

Even nutritious foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits can have acidic effects on tooth enamel, so eat them as part of a meal rather than on their own. Dried fruits can also pose issues because they adhere to teeth, so the acids produced by cavity-causing bacteria continue to pose a risk after you’ve finished eating.

Still claiming the top of the leaderboard, however, are soft drinks—especially sodas—thanks to the acid caused by carbonation. Bubbles elevate the acidity of any drink, regardless of its flavor or sugar content. Acid in beverages can also come from citrus flavorings, even when they are all-natural, so watch the frequency of your consumption. The same goes for wine and coffee. Much as you may love one (or both) of them, drink them in moderation.

Lastly, sour candies are extremely acidic. Many include citric acids to achieve their high pucker factor, so proceed with caution and keep your sweet tooth in check.

Want to stop the damage? You can reduce tooth erosion with a few simple tips: • After eating acidic foods, wait an hour before brushing to give your saliva a chance to wash away acids and re-harden your enamel naturally. • Limit acidic beverages or avoid them completely.

If you imbibe, use a straw and don’t swish or hold the drink in your mouth. Sip and swallow. • After acidic meals or beverages, rinse your mouth with water or drink milk to neutralize acids. • Saliva helps keep acid in check, so check sugarless gum to keep saliva flowing.

DR. SHOHREH SHARIF

D.D.S., FAAPD, FICD Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry Associate Professor, Howard University College of Dentistry Diplomate, American Orthodontic Society