A case report on tooth erosions apparently caused by excessive eating of citrus fruits

Abstract

Tooth erosions occurred in a twenty-two-year-old female. The patient was healthy and had experienced no serious sickness, and the family medical history was normal. Her trouble was not caused by her occupation, because she worked as a bank clerk since graduating from high school. Her oral cleanliness was excellent. No dental deposit was present, because she had good habits from childhood, brushing her teeth well since her mid-teens. At present she brushes two or three times a day by the rolling method for an adequate period of time.The girl did not recognize the erosions herself by pointing them out at her periodic health examination two years ago, nor has she recognized any symptoms since that time.The erosions shown in the photographs are labial flat defects of the teeth from the upper right canine to the left canine. The dentin is exposed strongly except for 2-3 mm of enamel at the cutting edges from the upper lateral incisor to the left canine. The erosions of the lower teeth are slighter than on the upper teeth, although the teeth have become thinner, and the dentin is exposed on the left incisor and canine.In replicas, dentin is seen clearly, and the enamel rod ends are seen also in the whole microscopic field on all parts of the enamel surface. There are also many scratches considered due to brushing.we believe that the erosions are caused by the excessive eating of acid-containing citrus fruits, and are aggravated by too much brushing.