Worn or missing enamel makes teeth more susceptible to tooth decay and decay. Small cavities aren't a problem, but if left to grow and rot, they can cause infections, such as painful dental abscesses. Worn enamel also affects the appearance of the smile. As mentioned earlier, once the enamel is lost, it cannot be replaced.
However, weakened enamel can be recovered through a process called remineralization, which replaces minerals lost in the enamel and strengthens it once again. Fluoride products, such as fluoride toothpaste and foods high in calcium, are great for aiding remineralization. Fluoride acts as a barrier between teeth and destructive substances such as sugars, starches and acids, protecting weakened enamel and teeth. For specific tips based on enamel loss, be sure to talk to your dentist about the best solution for you and your teeth.
Enamel is the outermost covering on your teeth, which protects them from wear and tear and fortifies them from hot and cold temperatures.
As enamel erodes, it can result in a variety of dental complications. It's important to know the signs of enamel erosion so you can get treatment before it causes serious damage.
Tooth Sensitivity
When enamel is worn down, it can expose the dentin layer in your teeth. This layer is full of tiny tubes that connect directly to your nerves. When this layer is damaged or thin, heat and cold can penetrate through the tooth to impact these nerves.
This can cause sudden, sharp pain when exposed to hot or cold temperatures. It's important to see your dentist if you have sensitivity that persists.
It can also be a warning sign of cavities or other dental problems that need to be addressed. The dentist can perform a comprehensive evaluation with x-rays, and may recommend treatment options to fix the sensitivity.
Your dentist can prescribe mouthwash and toothpaste, which may include desensitizing ingredients to help reduce the sensitivity. They may also apply fluoride gel to your teeth to strengthen them.
Tooth Discoloration
As your enamel wears down, the yellow core beneath it, the dentin, becomes more visible. This can occur as you age, but it’s also the result of certain conditions or genetics.
Environmental factors can also contribute to discoloration, including too much fluoride either from natural sources (high fluoride levels in water) or from excessive use of fluoride applications, rinses, or toothpaste. Tooth discoloration can also result from trauma, such as damage to a child’s teeth during a fall.
Medications can stain teeth as well, particularly antibiotics, such as tetracycline and its relatives, when given to children whose teeth are still developing before age 8. Head and neck radiation, chemotherapy, and treatment for certain diseases can also affect tooth color.
Fortunately, most discoloration is not permanent. We can help restore the color of weakened enamel through a process called remineralization, which replaces lost minerals to make it stronger again. In severe cases, we may recommend bonding or veneers.
Tooth Loss
When the enamel of your teeth wears away, it's called erosion. It can lead to tooth loss if it's not repaired early.
It's a condition that occurs when acid in plaque eats through healthy minerals in the outer surface of your teeth. Over time, this can cause holes or pits in the enamel that appear as dark spots or a thin layer of tissue over the tooth.
This process can be slowed or stopped through preventive oral care and dietary changes. These include limiting the amount of acidic food and drinks you consume, practicing good oral hygiene habits, and getting regular dental checkups to intercept damage before it starts.
Other health conditions that can lead to dental erosion are reflux disease, eating disorders, and bulimia nervosa (an eating disorder where patients make themselves sick by vomiting). Talk to your dentist about ways you can reduce your risk for enamel loss and protect your teeth.
Tooth Strengthening
Your tooth enamel is the hardest material produced by your body and it's what protects your teeth from bacteria, acid and decay. Enamel can be weakened by illness, genetics and poor oral hygiene habits.
However, you can strengthen your enamel and remineralize it to some degree by following the right oral care and dietary practices. Remineralization forces teeth-strengthening minerals and vitamins back into the enamel where they can harden and rebuild your tooth's protective layer.
One of the best ways to strengthen your enamel is by limiting your consumption of sugary snacks and drinks. Cut down on these foods and drinks to a minimum and save them for mealtimes only.
Drinking a lot of water throughout the day is also an excellent way to strengthen your teeth and prevent dry mouth. This can also help reduce bacteria that contributes to tooth decay.
Saliva helps keep your teeth strong by dilating erosive acids, removing waste and coating your enamel with calcium. It's important to make sure you're getting enough of this substance through your diet, as well as eating foods rich in vitamin D such as milk, mushrooms and orange juice.
If enamel loss is significant, the dentist may recommend covering the tooth with a crown or veneer. The crown can protect the tooth from further decay. The color of the enamel can range from grayish white to light yellow, but since it is semi-translucent, it is only partially responsible for the color of the teeth. While it's the hardest substance in the body, it can wear out over time.
Enamel erosion can occur for a wide variety of reasons, including teeth grinding, chronic acid reflux, low salivary flow, and regular use of certain medications. What you eat can also affect your enamel. For example, sugary and acidic foods can cause enamel erosion. If the enamel is exposed to destructive bacteria generated from sugars and starches, or to acids in citrus fruits and coffee, for example, the substance begins to break down.
For more information on tooth enamel treatments or to schedule an appointment, contact Penn Dental Family Practice today, (21) 898-PDFP. Flossing and brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is the easiest and most effective daily prevention method to combat and prevent enamel loss. Despite their strength, the everyday acids produced from certain foods and beverages, especially those that are sweet or contain starch, can put enamel at risk. To prevent enamel loss and keep your teeth healthy, be sure to brush your teeth, floss, and rinse every day with an antiseptic and fluoride mouthwash.
Tooth enamel is the strongest substance in the human body, but that doesn't mean it's not prone to tooth decay. In addition, since damaged tooth enamel does not regenerate naturally, specialized treatment is needed to repair the tooth. Swimming is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of activities that are hazardous to your tooth enamel. When a substantial amount of enamel wears away from the tooth, the yellowish layer of the dentin becomes more visible.
Without enamel, the sensitive part of the teeth is exposed and vulnerable to destructive substances, is much more susceptible to breakage and can become extremely sensitive and painful. However, you can help stop harmful tooth enamel loss by following a regular oral care routine that consists of brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily. This is one of the most common signs of enamel loss and occurs when the protective layer of the tooth wears away, exposing the softest and most sensitive layer of dentin. Tooth enamel is the hard layer on the outer surface of the teeth that serves to protect against tooth decay.
