Our O’Fallon Dentist Explains The Properties And Purpose Of Dental Enamel
When you are building an oral health treatment plan, one of the best things that you can do is to take steps to preserve as much of your existing health dental structure as possible. Because dental enamel is designed to be strong and resistant to damage, the more that you can do to preserve dental enamel the better it is for your smile.
Today our O’Fallon dentists are sharing some more information about enamel; we hope that this empowers you to care for your teeth!
Dental enamel is the outermost layer of your smile. Every tooth is actually comprised of multiple layers: the dental enamel, the dentin, and then finally the dental pulp. Of these three layers the dental enamel is the least porous and the most durable.
Additionally, dental enamel does not have nerves in it. This is what allows you to chew and drink your favorite beverages without experiencing pain and sensitivity.
In order to maintain strong and healthy dental enamel, you want to make sure that you are drinking plenty of water, and cleaning your smile as recommended by your dentist. You should also limit the amount of acidic substances that you consume, as this can soften enamel and lead to erosion.
If you have developed some unhealthy dental habits—like chomping on ice and hard candies, for example—make a concerted effort to cut these behaviors out of your daily life. Chewing on abrasive or hard substances can cause micro cracks and chips in your enamel—damage so small that it may be invisible to the naked eye. Unfortunately, these small weak spots can become larger and more severe over time.
Our O’Fallon dentists are here to give you the personalized recommendations that you need to maintain a healthy smile. Call our team to schedule a personal consultation; once we assess the state of your smile, we can give you ideas on how to care for your enamel, specifically!