You know brushing and flossing are essential, but do you know why?
If your first thought is to avoid dental decay and periodontal disease, you’re spot on!
Regular dental home care helps protect your dental enamel from damage that can lead to dental decay, cracking, chipping, and fractures.
Today, we’ll take a look at what tooth enamel is, why it’s important, and what you can do to make sure it stays healthy and strong.
Tooth enamel is the outer layer of your teeth. The teeth consist of three layers:
The enamel of the teeth is one of the hardest substances on Earth. In fact, to remove dental decay or prepare a tooth for a crown, your West Covina dentist must use a special bur on their high-speed handpiece made of diamond powder. It is the only material strong enough to cut into the enamel.
Dental enamel consists of:
The calcium and phosphorus bond together to form crystallites, making the enamel incredibly hard. The design of a tooth’s anatomy is really incredible because the hard enamel protects the pulp, which is a living tissue. Once the pulp dies, the whole tooth is dead.
The outer layer of the teeth needs to be strong to withstand the onslaught our teeth face daily, including:
When tooth enamel is damaged, the tooth's structure is at risk. Dental decay, chips in the enamel, worn or eroded enamel, and cracks all make the tooth weaker. If we don’t address these issues early, they will eventually lead to the breakdown of the tooth. Eventually, the tooth will:
In these scenarios, the tooth needs to be restored by your West Covina dentist, which will likely require one or more of the following treatments:
There are three leading causes of enamel damage.
Other things that can contribute to damaging the enamel include:
You won’t always be able to recognize signs of enamel damage, which is why it’s so important to see your West Covina dentist regularly. They can identify the early signs of tooth enamel damage and recommend treatments to remedy the issue before you experience pain or need expensive treatment.
However, in some cases, you can identify tooth enamel damage. Here are a few of the symptoms.
Thankfully, you can take steps to protect your tooth enamel. With regular dental hygiene practices and help from your West Covina dentist, you can keep your enamel strong.
Removing plaque is vital in the prevention of dental decay. Plaque builds up every time we eat, so it’s important to brush at least twice a day, if not after every meal.
Avoid brushing too hard, and make sure to brush the whole tooth, including at the gum line and the biting surfaces of the teeth. If you can, invest in an electric toothbrush. It will provide a more thorough clean, help you clean hard-to-reach places, and prevent you from brushing too hard.
Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens the enamel. Numerous studies show that it helps prevent dental decay. In addition to getting treatments from your West Covina dentist, usingfluoride toothpaste daily will help keep your tooth enamel healthy.
Your toothbrush can’t clean below the gum line or between the teeth. Yet, plaque and food particles still build up in these areas and weaken the enamel. Daily flossing will help reduce your risk of dental decay between your teeth and on the roots.
Bacteria cause dental decay and can live anywhere in your mouth. Brushing your teeth isn’t always enough. Use a tongue scraper to remove bacteria buildup on your tongue, too.
If you clench and grind your teeth, your West Covina has a solution! They can recommend ways to reduce bruxing, such as stress reduction techniques. Your dentist can also fabricate a custom night guard to protect your tooth enamel and jaw joints from nocturnal bruxism.
Foods and beverages that pose the highest risk to your enamel are those that contain a high amount of sugar or are acidic. To reduce your risk of enamel damage, limit these foods, make sure to clean your teeth after eating them, and drink through a straw to prevent direct contact with the teeth.
You and your West Covina dentist are a team. We want to help you prevent dental diseases and the pain and discomfort that so often accompanies them.
To do that, we can work together to create adental prevention plan that improves the health of your tooth enamel. You’ll do your part at home, and we’ll do our part whenever you visit our West Covina dental office.
Together, we can keep your teeth strong and your smile beautiful!
Contact us today to schedule a comprehensive oral evaluation.
CALL (626) 605-6601
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