O’Fallon Dentist Gives You Tips To Help You Maintain Strong Enamel
Your dental enamel—the outermost covering of your tooth—protects the other, more vulnerable layers of your tooth from dental damage. Consequently, it makes sense that if you want to keep your smile strong and healthy, you need to maintain resilient dental enamel!
Today our O’Fallon dentists are giving you some tips and suggestions about how to keep your dental enamel in great shape over time. Try incorporating some of these habits and behaviors into your daily routine to give your smile a boost.
1. Minimize the amount of time that bacteria can sit on your smile
This is key: the less time that bacteria are able to attach your teeth and gums, the better it is for your smile. So, it is in your best interest to minimize the amount of sugary and refined-carbohydrate-rich substances that you consume. Then, when you do indulge, take the time to rinse your mouth with water after you are done—this will help to dislodge remaining dental debris!
2. Watch out for signs and symptoms of bruxism
Food and drinks are not the only things that can take a real toll on your smile; certain behaviors will also weaken enamel over time. If, for example, you chronically grind and clench your teeth (bruxism), your enamel can develop micro-cracks and chips. Long-term, untreated bruxism leaves you prone to suffering from infections and damage over time.
If you think that you may dealing with bruxism, talk to your dentist about the treatments that are available to you.
3. Pay attention to how your treat your teeth
Chomping on hard substances, like candies, mints, and ice will cause your enamel to thin, and can create dental chips and fractures. If you notice that you are doing these things in your daily life, please make a concerted effort to stop! Your smile will thank you.
When you prioritize your dental enamel by taking care of it day to day, you allow your enamel to protect your smile as a whole. Want to learn more? Our O’Fallon dentists are here to answer all of your questions!