Tooth erosion, gastroesophageal reflux, and salivary buffer capacity.

To obtain information on the connection between tooth erosion and acid gastroesophageal reflux, 14 patients (mean age, 15.7 years) with tooth erosion were investigated with simultaneous 24-hour pH monitoring in the esophagus and the oral cavity. Salivary parameters were also investigated in a larger group of 62 erosion patients (mean age, 21 years) and compared with a group of 50 controls (mean age, 28 years). No changes in oral pH were observed in a total of 339 acid reflux episodes, not even in long supine reflux episodes. Extended periods of lowered intra-oral pH to the level of 4 to 5 were observed but not connected with gastroesophageal reflux episodes. Significantly more (p < 0.001) erosion patients (34 of 62) had low salivary buffer capacity compared with controls (10 of 50).