When it comes to protecting your teeth, your natural enamel is your first and best line of defense. Enamel is the tough outer layer that keeps your smile healthy and white. But, like the rest of our bodies, enamel experiences wear and tear and can be damaged through our day to day activities. The best route for keeping enamel in good shape is prevention and regular dental care from an early age. But when enamel does wear away, we have plenty of cosmetic approaches that can help.
Enamel is the thin protective layer on the outside of the tooth. It’s made of minerals including a form of calcium phosphate and is the hardest substance in the human body, even harder than your bones. It’s the part of our pearly whites that we show to the outside world. But it also protects the more delicate tissue underneath, including the softer and more sensitive dentin layer just below. Dentin is naturally yellow, so when patients have yellowing teeth, it’s often because the enamel is wearing away.
Your enamel can be eroded by acids, chipped or ground away. Enamel erosion is one of the most common dental problems and is often directly related to what you’re eating and drinking. Enamel erosion happens when acids in your mouth wear away that important protective layer. In many cases, this happens when bacteria in plaque produced by eating sugary foods attacks the enamel. In children, enamel erosion is almost always related to diet, with sugary snacks and drinks as the main culprit. This is why more and more family dentists recommend avoiding juice, chocolate milk and other sugary drinks, especially in sippy cups, and limiting sweet treats to mealtimes.
With adults, the causes of enamel erosion can be more complicated. Diet does play a big role, especially with high acid food and drinks (including diet soft drinks and wine.) But other factors come into play, including conditions like dry mouth and acid reflux, certain medications and genetics. Regular teeth grinding can also lead to enamel erosion, with the molars taking the brunt of the damage.
There are lots of ways to keep enamel healthy and strong. The good news is that most of them are easy to manage. Here are a few of the best ways to keep your enamel in great shape:
To keep tooth enamel healthy, prevention is key, especially in children. However, if enamel erosion causes more serious problems, your family dentist can tackle it with a cosmetic approach. There are several options for damage and discoloration caused by enamel erosion, and the best option usually depends on the extent of the damage.
