NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Children who frequently vomit after eating and suffer heartburn symptoms may be at risk of tooth erosion, according to a recent report.

Researchers found that children with gastroesophageal reflux disease--the general term for the back-up of stomach contents into the esophagus--were more likely than others to have lost some of the enamel covering their teeth. Erosion of the permanent teeth can lead to cavities and other dental problems.

The findings indicate that children with dental erosion should be evaluated for gastroesophageal reflux disease. And children who have already been diagnosed with reflux should have regular dental exams to check for erosion, according to the report in The Journal of Pediatrics.

Current strategies to prevent additional tooth erosion include using fissure sealants, fluoride rinses and sodium bicarbonate mouth rinse several times a day, Dr. Ahmed Dahshan from Oklahoma University in Tulsa and colleagues explain.

Gastroesophageal reflux is common in infancy and childhood and can increase the risk of bleeding, anemia and inflammation of the esophagus. To investigate whether the condition was associated with dental erosion, investigators examined 24 patients with reflux aged from 2 to 18.

Erosion of at least some enamel was noted in 20 patients or roughly 83%, and affected the teeth in the back of the mouth. Half of the patients had mild erosion and one quarter had severe erosion of the enamel, the researchers found.

SOURCE: The Journal of Pediatrics 2002;140:474-478.

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