About Tooth Enamel Repair
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What is tooth enamel?
Enamel is the outer thin covering of the tooth. It covers the crown or the area of the tooth, which is visible. At times cigarettes, red wine, coffee, fruit juices, cola and tea stain the enamel on your teeth.
What does tooth enamel do? Enamel helps guard your teeth against everyday use like grinding, biting, chewing and crunching. Enamel as well insulates the teeth from likely painful chemicals and temperatures. Enamel lacks living cells; the body is unable to repair it in case it's cracked or chipped.
What causes enamel erosion? Tooth erosion takes place when acids wear away the enamel on teeth. Enamel erosion may be as a result of the following:
- Consumption of too much soft and fizzy drinks (high levels of citric and phosphoric acids)
- Low salivary flow or dry mouth
- Genetics (inherited disorders)
- Fruit drinks (certain acids in fruit drinks are very erosive compared to battery acid)
- A diet high in starches and sugar
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Acid reflux disease (GORD)
- Certain medications (antihistamines, aspirin)
- Environmental factors (corrosion, wear and tear, friction, and stress)
What are environmental causes of tooth surface erosion? - This is natural tooth-to-tooth friction, which takes place when you grind or clench your teeth that usually takes place involuntarily during sleep.
- Corrosion. This takes place medications and highly acidic foods when acidic material damages the tooth surface of the tooth that may be because of the consumption of particular, or due to binge drinking, regular vomiting from bulimia, GORD or other conditions.
- Abrasion. This is physical deterioration of the tooth surface, which takes place because of biting on hard objects, brushing your teeth too hard, incorrect flossing brushing.
- This takes place following stress fractures in the tooth, like bending of the tooth or cracks from flexing.
The role of saliva It protects enamel by coating the teeth in protective calcium and other minerals. Saliva as well dilutes erosive agents like acids, boosts protective substances, which help fight disease and mouth bacteria, and takes out waste materials from the mouth.
Does plaque bring about enamel erosion? Plaque is a sticky film composed of bacteria, saliva, food particles, and other substances. It forms between your teeth and gets inside pits or small holes in the molars. It as well gets around your fillings and beside the gum line where the gum and teeth meet.
At times the bacteria in plaque changes food starches into acids, after that, the acids in the plaque begin to eat away at the healthy minerals in the tooth enamel .
What are the warning signs of enamel erosion ? - Sensitivity
- Chips and cracks
- Rounded
- Discoloration
- Cupping
- Severe, painful sensitivity
How do you prevent enamel loss? Make sure that you brush and floss your teeth daily. See your dentist as often as advised to do so for regular checkups and cleaning. You can also try the following:
How can you stop enamel loss? Ensure that you brush and floss your teeth every day. Visit your dentist as many times as recommended to do so for frequent examinations and cleaning. You may as well attempt the following:
- Cut down highly acidic drinks and foods acidic from your diet, like fizzy drinks, lemons and other citrus juices and citrus fruits. Rinse your mouth right away with plain water after drinking acidic drinks or consuming acidic foods.
- Avoid snacking except if you are going to rinse your mouth and brush your teeth later on.
- Drink plenty of water all through your day should you have a dry mouth or low saliva volume.
- Use a straw when you drink acidic drinks.
- Chew sugar-free gum with xylitol between meals that helps neutralize acids from drinks and foods
- Use fluoride toothpaste.
Can you get an excessive amount of fluoride? While fluoride is beneficial in stopping tooth decay, a lot of fluorides can result in problems, such as enamel fluorosis. This condition can happen in kids and brings about defects in the enamel of the teeth.
How is tooth enamel loss treated? Treatment of tooth enamel loss is determined by the individual problem. At times tooth bonding (the use of tooth-colored resins to parts of damage) is used to protect the tooth and enhance its look.
If the enamel loss is large, the dentist might recommend using a crown to cover the tooth. The crown might protect the tooth from further decay. Another likely option is to use a ceramic veneer to cover the outer surface of the front tooth.
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