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Tooth enamel is the hard, insulating surface that protects teeth from cavities and decay. It can be damaged by acidic foods and drinks, hard brushing and dental conditions such as dry mouth and bruxism.
While tooth enamel can’t regenerate itself, several approaches can help prevent and treat erosion. Practicing good oral hygiene with fluoride treatments, brushing twice per day and flossing at least once a day will all help preserve tooth enamel.
1. Fluoride Tr 韓国歯科矯正 eatments
A naturally occurring mineral, fluoride helps to repair weakened tooth enamel and reverse early signs of tooth decay. We take in fluoride two ways: systemically, through the water we drink and dietary supplements; and topically, through toothpaste, mouth rinses and gels. We also get a concentrated dose of fluoride in our dental office through a professional application of a varnish, foam, gel or tray.
We all need to brush and floss, eat balanced meals, reduce sugary snacks and visit our dentists on a regular basis to maintain good oral health and prevent damage to our teeth and gums. However, sometimes our enamel can become eroded or have minor cavities due to natural causes like eating acidic foods and drinks or having an insufficient amount of saliva.
When this happens, our body’s amazing remineralization process will reverse the damage by strengthening and hardening tooth enamel crystals. But if our teeth aren’t getting enough fluoride, we need to receive additional professional treatment.
Our dentists often recommend fluoride treatments for those who are at a higher risk of developing tooth decay, such as those with dry mouth conditions that limit saliva production or those who have dental work like dental crowns and braces that can trap food particles and bacteria. Fluoride treatments can also help those with frequent or recurring cavities by strengthening the surface of the teeth and preventing future damage.
2. Diet
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in your body (even harder than bone), but it can wear down from poor diet and hygiene habits. Once tooth enamel erodes, it can expose dentin and cause sensitivity, pain or stains.
Cavity-causing bacteria in plaque feed on sugars and produce acids that eat away at tooth enamel and underlying dentin. This is why it is important to eliminate sugary foods and drinks, including sodas, fruit juices, candy and ice cream. These foods also tend to have more nooks and crannies than other types of food, which increases the risk of acids sticking to teeth.
In addition to eliminating sugar, it is a good idea to include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Leafy green vegetables like kale and spinach are rich in calcium, which helps strengthen enamel. Additionally, many fruits and vegetables are high in antioxidants, which can help prevent stains.
It is also helpful to drink water throughout the day, especially fluoridated water. This can help rinse away food debris, flush out acid and promote saliva production. Other healthy beverages include milk, tea, coffee and sugar-free gum or chewing sticks with xylitol, which is known to reduce acid and bacteria in the mouth.
3. Brushing
Tooth enamel is one of the strongest substances in the human body. Yet, it can wear down if not carefully protected from a diet full of sugary foods and beverages, hard brushing techniques, and direct damage to the teeth (such as a fall or blow to the mouth).
Tooth Enamel Repair
Tooth decay, sensitivity, and even tooth loss are common problems that require professional dental care. The best way to protect enamel is with good oral hygiene techniques, a balanced diet, and consistent treatment routines. But if your enamel is already damaged, there are a number of treatments available that can help.
The most common cause of enamel erosion is a combination of food acid and plaque, which turns the sugar in foods into acids that erode the healthy minerals in tooth enamel, creating tiny holes known as dental cavities. Luckily, this is a very preventable problem with simple tweaks to your diet, such as avoiding sugary foods and drinks and reducing your intake of acidic ones. In addition, you can avoid abrasive brushing techniques and make sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush to minimize erosion. For more severe cases of worn down or destroyed enamel, veneers and crowns are treatments that can help strengthen the teeth. A veneer is a thin porcelain shell that is bonded to the front of the tooth, while a crown is like a cap that fits over a damaged tooth, providing strength and support.
4. Flossing
Tooth enamel is the thin, clear outermost layer of hard, protective tissue that protects teeth from tooth decay, gum disease and other dental problems. Although it can be damaged by eating too many acidic foods and drinks, it can also be restored through a few preventive approaches. These include using fluoride toothpaste and getting supplemental treatments at the dentist office, avoiding too much acidic food and drink, eating calcium-rich foods and drinking enough water.
Flossing is a critical tool for combating plaque, the clingy bacterial biofilm that causes cavities and other maladies. Flossing removes bacteria in places a toothbrush cannot reach, such as the tight spaces between teeth and under the gum line. It also polishes tooth surfaces and decreases the risk of gum disease.
The best defense against eroded tooth enamel is a strong offense. That means brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily. It’s also important to be consistent with these oral hygiene habits. Skipping a few days won’t hurt, but making flossing a regular part of your routine is key.
To properly floss, take about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around the middle finger on one hand with the rest of it wrapped around your index fingers and thumbs. Using the thumbs and forefingers to manipulate the floss, gently saw it between each of your teeth, moving back and forth and forming a C shape around the tooth surface to ensure all bacteria is removed.