Tooth enamel is your body’s hardest substance. It serves as a dental protective barrier. Enamel is composed mainly of calcium and phosphorus, protecting the dentin and pulp from bacteria and decay. Also, contributes to your teeth’s appearance, offering them their white color. This makes it important to protect your tooth enamel. Without this protective barrier, you risk discoloration, sensitivity infections, and cavities. A regular visit to a dentist in San Jose is a great step towards keeping your enamel intact and maintaining a bright and functional smile. Without proper dental care, your enamel can erode and lead to serious oral health issues.
How Enamel Erosions Happen
Many factors can cause your enamel to erode, weakening your teeth’s protective barrier and resulting in oral health problems. By understanding the causes, you can take steps to protect your smile. Enamel erosion can be caused by the following:
- Acidic foods and beverages. Highly acidic foods and drinks like citrus fruits, soft drinks, and tomatoes can soften the enamel of your teeth. Eventually, this can result in increased dental cavities and sensitivity.
- Sugary diets. Consuming sugary foods and beverages regularly offers fuel for damaging mouth bacteria. Such bacteria produce acids that degrade enamel, putting you at an increased risk of tooth decay.
- Plaque buildup. Plaque forms on your teeth when food particles are not removed properly during brushing. When not removed, plaque can harden and become tartar, resulting in the production of enamel-damaging acids. Brush and floss your teeth regularly to prevent plaque and tartar buildup.
Consequences of Enamel Erosion
Enamel erosion leads to various problems that affect your comfort and oral health. They can lead to the following:
- Increased sensitivity. Heightened tooth sensitivity is an early sign of enamel erosion. Once worn down, your enamel won’t be able to protect the dentin from exposure. Dentin has tiny tubules linked to nerve endings. Dentin exposure causes discomfort whenever you consume anything hot, acidic, sweet, or cold.
- Increased risk of cavities. Tooth enamel protects your teeth from acids and bacteria that result in tooth decay. When compromised, the enamel cannot effectively do its job, making your teeth more susceptible to cavities. Dental cavities occur when the bacteria in plaque produce acids that erode your enamel and reach the dentin.
- Other possible problems. Thinning enamel can expose dentin, which is the yellowish layer of your teeth. This results in a dull or stained look. Also, weakened enamel is prone to damage from biting or chewing. Enamel erosion can be a contributing factor to gum issues because bacteria accumulate in areas of the teeth where enamel has been compromised.
How to Protect Your Tooth Enamel
Maintaining good oral hygiene is important to keeping your enamel intact. This can protect your enamel from eroding and keep your oral health in top shape. In addition, you should use fluoride products smartly. Fluoride can protect your enamel by rebuilding weakened enamel and increasing its resistance to acids.
Moreover, hydration and dental health are essential to keeping tooth enamel strong. Saliva is the natural defense mechanism of your mouth as it helps neutralize acids from food and bacteria. It also supplies calcium and phosphorus, which help in the remineralization process, making your enamel stronger than ever. Staying hydrated throughout the day helps boost saliva production and washes away food particles that can harm your teeth.
Professional dental care plays an important role in keeping your tooth enamel strong. Routine dental checkups and cleanings are important to monitor your health and make sure any possible problems are addressed right away. By visiting your dentist regularly, they can detect the early stages of enamel erosion. Early intervention prevents further damage.