Because your dental enamel is charged with protecting your smile from damage, it is vitally important that you care for it with at-home and professional dental care. Today our O’Fallon dentists are going to give you an overview of some of the most common threats to enamel. We hope this information will help you make good decisions for your own smile.
When harmful oral bacteria take root in your smile, they go to work feeding on sugars and multiplying. As these bacteria grow they release acid, which starts to de-mineralize and weaken your enamel. This is why it’s so important to keep bacterial plaque and tartar to a minimum every single day.
There are also many acidic foods and drinks that can wear down and thin enamel after repeated exposure. Coffee, wine, soft drinks, and fruit juices, for example all expose your smile to harmful acid. In order to protect your smile, it is a good idea to limit the amount of these substances that you consume. You can also rinse your mouth with water shortly after eating or drinking these things, to help refresh your smile. Just make sure to wait at least thirty minutes after consuming something acidic to brush your teeth, as your enamel may be slightly softer in that period.
Your dental enamel can also start to thin and weaken due to physical pressure and abrasion. If, for example, you chew on ice or hard candies, this can harm your teeth over time. Additionally, conditions like bruxism (chronic dental grinding) will thin enamel and cause an increase in cracks and chips. If you’re battling bruxism, you may benefit from wearing a protective mouth guard at night to serve as a buffer between your top and bottom teeth.
Our O’Fallon dentists have all of the information and treatments that you need to keep your natural enamel look great and feeling strong for years to come. Just reach out to our helpful dental team when you are ready to get started!