Enamel is the outer covering of the tooth, which is known as the hardest material in the body. Enamel is even harder than bone tissue. Enamel plays an important role in protecting your teeth and keeps them away from any physical or chemical enamel damage.
Enamel is a hard material with a thickness of a few millimetres, but you should still use healthy and appropriate food to prevent any damage and erosion.
Among the foods that cause damage to tooth enamel are acidic substances (such as lemon juice), sugary substances such as sugar and high sweets, which cause the destruction of enamel damage at different levels.
It should be noted that enamel repair is not possible. Because it is a mineral and has no self-healing properties. If your enamel is damaged due to some cases, you can use treatment methods.
Enamel Damage at Different Levels
Enamel damage at different levels can determine appropriate treatment methods. If there is little erosion on the outer surface of the enamel, the enamel damage is minimal and does not require special treatment. Fluoride mouthwash can strengthen damaged enamel.
See your dentist after a month of using mouthwash to find out how the treatment has progressed. If the damage to the enamel is moderate, the best treatment is to use composite materials to fill or use dental veneers.
If more severe damage is done to the enamel, the damage is severe and can be treated using dental laminate, crown and… In case of further injuries, it may be necessary to extract the tooth and replace it with a removable denture, fixed bridge or dental implant.
Enamel also protects sensitive tooth pulp from very cold or very hot temperatures. For all its hardness, enamel does not mean that it will never get damaged. Enamel, like other bones in the body, is prone to cracking, breaking and erosion.
Enamel Prevention Methods
Enamel is a layer that covers the outside of a tooth. Enamel is the strongest part of the human body. The part of the tooth that is seen outside the gums is called the crown of the tooth. Enamel covers the crown of the tooth.
Some factors cause damage to the enamel, which can be prevented by following a few tips. By taking care of your teeth and observing dental hygiene, reducing the consumption of sugary foods and consuming the right ingredients, you can help keep tooth enamel healthy. What you see as a healthy tooth is an enamel that covers the surface of the tooth.
Types of Enamel Erosion
Enamel erosion is observed in various forms:
- tooth wear abrasion
Abrasion of teeth with foreign materials causes scratching and abrasion of teeth. Most of these abrasions are caused by foreign materials such as hard toothbrushes, floss or toothpicks and the like.
In addition to these ingredients, we can also mention food. Among these foods, we can mention sunflower seeds, nuts, etc.
Some people also have bad habits that can lead to tooth damage and enamel erosion. These habits can include pencil chewing, nail-biting, and so on. - Friction with other teeth or atrial fibrillation
If people have gritted teeth or press their teeth against each other, then tooth wear will also appear and the teeth will be damaged.
Tooth friction not only erodes the enamel, but if the condition persists, the teeth will shorten.
With this condition, the teeth become more sensitive to hot and cold foods, sour and sweet substances, and. More than before. - Tooth corrosion with acid
If you use acidic foods for a long time, you will see tooth sensitivity, which is due to the decay and wear of teeth and enamel damage at different levels.
Avoid acidic foods, acidic drinks, soft drinks, and carbonated water to care for this type of erosion.
DOES OHIP COVER DENTAL SERVICES? How Can I Protect My Enamel?
Good dental care is the best way to keep your teeth healthy. To prevent enamel erosion and keep your teeth healthy, brush your teeth regularly, floss, and use fluoride mouthwashes. Be sure to see your dentist every six months to check your oral hygiene.
Cut down on acidic foods and beverages such as soft drinks, citrus fruits and juices. Consumption of such foods increases oral bacteria and leads to tooth decay.
Rinse your mouth with water after eating or drinking acidic things.
Use a straw to drink soft drinks or juice so that they do not touch your teeth.
Try to have a glass of milk or a piece of cheese after each meal. These neutralize oral acid.
Use sugar-free gum. They reduce the amount of acid in your mouth and help you produce more saliva, which also strengthens your teeth.
If you have a dry mouth, drink more water throughout the day.
Although citrus fruits contain vitamin C and are good for heart health and weight loss, The acid in them erodes the enamel.
Will Plaque Cause Erode Tooth Enamel?
Dental plaque is a sticky surface that consists of saliva, small particles of food, bacteria and other substances that can stick to the surface of your teeth in any situation. Plaque forms between your teeth and can also form between tiny holes.
Sometimes plaque bacteria convert the starch in food into acid. When this happens, the acids in the plaque begin to eat away at the healthy minerals in your enamel. This causes the tooth enamel to wear out and puncture. Over time, small indentations and flakes will form on the surface of the enamel.
Enamel Erosion Treatment
The kinds of enamel damage at different levels:
Unfortunately, there is no way to restore enamel, but you can repair your damaged tooth with some dental treatments.
Tooth bonding
You can cover the lost enamel with bonding. Dental bonding is one of the simplest and least expensive dental treatment methods for the partial restoration of teeth. This treatment is more recommended for broken, cracked and stained teeth and is an affordable solution.
In this treatment, a synthetic substance called composite resin is attached to the natural tooth structure. The goal of this treatment is to hide defects such as cracks, stains and minor fractures of the tooth to maintain the natural appearance of the teeth.
The composite resin used in this treatment takes the natural shape of the tooth and matches the appearance of the tooth. It can also be used to fill in gaps between teeth or teeth that have changed colour or deformed.
Dental veneer
The dental veneer is one of the popular treatment methods to improve the appearance of teeth, which is mostly used to repair broken, deformed teeth and fill the gaps between teeth. Actually
A dental veneer is a thin coating that sticks to the surface of the tooth and gives it a beautiful appearance.
Dental implants
If you can not maintain your natural teeth, implant treatment can fill in the gaps in your teeth and give the teeth a natural look.
