O’Fallon Dentist Helps You Understand How Dental Enamel Becomes Compromised
Your dental enamel is designed to keep your tooth as a whole healthy and protected. But, dental enamel is not indestructible, so we need take steps to keep enamel healthy and strong. Today our O’Fallon dentists will be talking to you about how dental enamel becomes damaged, so that you can take proactive steps to maintain healthy enamel.
When you look at your smile, your teeth look white and shiny—what you are seeing is your dental enamel! Dental enamel is the outermost surface of the tooth, and beneath the dental enamel lies dentin and the pulp tissue—both of which are less strong and resilient than enamel.
Because dental enamel is not very porous, it is able to resist a lot of bacteria and oral acid. However, long-term exposure to bacteria and acid will weaken enamel over time. So the number one goal is to minimize the amount of time that these things are able to sit on your teeth! To do this:
· Brush and floss as recommended
· Limit the amount of sugary things that you eat and drink
· Rinse your mouth with water throughout the day
· Drink plenty of water
Another thing that will cause enamel to thin and weaken is too much pressure on the enamel. When you grind and clench your teeth, your enamel starts to wear down. Additionally, if you chew on hard candies or ice, your dental enamel may develop micro-cracks and chips, which leave your teeth susceptible to further damage. So it is very important that you seek treatment for dental grinding as soon as you notice it in your life, and try not to chomp on things that could damage your teeth.
With a little bit of care and foresight, you can help your dental enamel stay strong and healthy for years to come. As always, our O’Fallon dentists are here to help you in any way possible—please give us a call to get started!