From the outside, your teeth look healthy. But weak enamel can still make your oral health worse. Strong enamel is one of the most important factors for comprehensive oral care. Therefore, the protection of tooth enamel is very necessary to protect comprehensive oral health. Let’s explore how to fix enamel erosion in this article!
Contents
What is tooth enamel?
Enamel is the outermost layer and covers the outside of the teeth. This is the hardest component in the human body. Enamel gives color to teeth, makes teeth stronger, and protects dentin and pulp. The enamel is pale yellow, gray-white. And sometimes it has a bluish tint on the edge of the teeth.
Tooth enamel contains the highest mineral content in the human body. The enamel layer contains up to 96% mineral salts. The rest is a little organic matter and water. Tooth enamel is an arrangement of long thin calcium phosphate crystals. This enamel is very difficult to break or rub. The biggest weakness of the enamel layer is that it is gradually eroded in an acidic environment. If the enamel is worn away, it cannot be restored.
The enamel thickness on the crown is not uniform, and the thickest position at the tip of the tooth is 2.5 mm. The location with the thinnest enamel layer is in the cervical region. The thickness of this glaze is also influenced by genetic factors. Parents with unhealthy tooth enamel also pass it on to their children. That makes the enamel of your baby’s teeth thinner and weaker than usual.
Thanks to enamel, dentin, and pulp are protected from bacteria, heat, and external forces. It helps us eat easier to chew, especially tough foods.
Reasons for weak tooth enamel
Caused by the impact of elements inside the body
Dry mouth due to underactive salivary glands, and acid from food residue. It is one of the causes of tooth enamel wear.
Oral diseases such as tooth decay or periodontitis, etc., create conditions for bacteria to attack tooth enamel and weaken tooth enamel.
Gastrointestinal diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, and congenital genetic diseases such as nutritional deficiencies, calcium deficiency, etc. can also cause enamel to wear down.
The reason is due to the influence of daily life
Failure to do regular oral hygiene or improper oral hygiene. That will cause excess food to form solid plaque on the teeth. It allows bacteria to attack tooth enamel.
The habit of brushing teeth is also one of the causes of tooth enamel wear. You should brush your teeth vertically to avoid wearing down the neck and enamel.
Habit of grinding teeth and the impact of chipping teeth are also mechanical effects that cause open enamel and dentin.
Diets high in carbohydrates, sugars, and acids also weaken tooth enamel.
Warning signs of weak tooth enamel
Teeth appear with milky white spots
White spots can be caused by bacteria that convert plaque into acids, reversing the substances in tooth enamel. Or it can also be caused by an excess of fluoride in the body, leading to the appearance of milky white spots on the surface of the teeth.
If the patient sees this mark on the tooth surface without treatment, it very quickly bacteria creates white spots. It will cause severe tooth decay or other diseases such as inflammation of the tissues, gums, etc.
Teeth falling out when eating hard food
When you eat hard foods, the thin, sensitive enamel that covers your teeth can peel off, which is a sign that the enamel is weakened and is very vulnerable. Even slight impacts can seriously affect tooth enamel.
When you see the above signs, do not hesitate, but go to the dentist immediately to be examined by a doctor, determine the cause and take timely treatment measures, to avoid affecting your health for long-term healthy teeth.
Ways to fix weak tooth enamel
Avoid foods and drinks that demineralize tooth enamel
Fermented carbohydrates, found in candy, cookies, soft drinks, bread, crackers, bananas, and many sugary breakfast bowls of cereal, combine with bacteria in the mouth to create harmful acids, those acids. This disrupts the structure of tooth enamel.
This process is called demineralization because the acid “eats away” the minerals that are produced naturally in your tooth enamel. In general, sugary foods and candies can demineralize your enamel over time, and that happens if you don’t brush your teeth properly. The acid produced by these foods will stick to your teeth after eating.
Use mineral supplements
One of the best preventive steps you can take is to consistently use products that contain mineral supplements. Fluoride supplements are one of the best ways to strengthen tooth enamel. Drink fluoridated water and consult your dentist about the fluoride found in toothpaste, mouthwashes, and fluoride treatments.
How to fix enamel erosion: Brush your teeth properly
If you feel uncomfortable brushing or eating, it’s best to make an appointment with your dentist right away. But brushing too hard or brushing with a stiff bristle brush can damage enamel. To keep your enamel healthy, keep these tips in mind.
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Position your brush at a 45-degree angle when brushing and move the brush briefly and firmly
- For a thorough clean, brush your teeth for at least two minutes at a time.
- Clean all areas of your mouth, including your tongue, to remove the bacteria that normally reside here.
Saliva, secreted after brushing, can also compensate for and correct demineralization. Containing minerals and proteins that help protect your enamel from cavities, saliva continuously washes away germs from your teeth even when you’re not paying attention.
Building a diet rich in compensated minerals
According to the University of California-Berkeley, you may be surprised to learn that tooth decay can occur if your enamel is weakened over a long period of time, and this is quite a problem for modern humans. The modern diet since the Industrial Revolution has played a large part in the increased incidence of tooth decay.
But there are also certain foods that help remineralize your teeth, so choose a diet with such foods to help strengthen your enamel. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends the following food groups for excellent oral health:
- Seed
- Fruits and vegetables
- Protein-rich foods
- Low-fat dairy products
According to research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), certain foods, like cheese, have been found to inhibit the demineralization process of teeth. Cheese promotes saliva production, which helps maintain the pH level in your mouth while inhibiting acid production. Celery – a vegetable that contains a lot of water – can also maintain the amount of saliva in the mouth, rebuilding soft tooth enamel.
Final thought
To keep your teeth strong and healthy, follow these instructions above and make a habit of taking good care of your teeth on a daily basis.
Top News hopes this article can help you learn more about how to fix enamel erosion.
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