Numerous unpleasant symptoms and dental issues can arise from tooth enamel loss. People who have experienced tooth enamel loss frequently experience problems like sensitivity, pain, or chipping.
The good news is that, without exerting too much effort, you can prevent further enamel loss and enjoy a healthy smile by taking a few simple, intentional steps.
At Goodridge Family Dentistry, our team of Chapel Hill Dentists educates patients on how to properly care for their teeth and strengthen tooth enamel naturally so that they can have the best dental health.
Continue reading or contact Goodridge Family Dentistry right away to make an appointment if you’re looking for information on how to restore tooth enamel naturally.
Causes of Enamel Loss
It’s important to understand the main causes of tooth enamel loss in order to know how to prevent it. Once you are aware of what contributes to enamel loss, you can modify your lifestyle to stop further harm from occurring.
The following are some of the main causes of enamel loss:
- Poor dental habits: These consist of neglecting to brush or floss, as well as skipping routine dental checkups.
- An unhealthy diet: Tooth enamel is harmed by a diet heavy in sweets, candy, and other acidic foods.
- using a hard-bristled toothbrush or excessively brushing: Over time, these practices erode tooth enamel.
- Smoking or using tobacco products: Tobacco use and smoking is bad for your oral health for a variety of reasons, including enamel erosion.
- Acid reflux: Chronic acid reflux exposes your teeth to stomach acid, which is very harmful to enamel and can quickly cause tooth enamel loss.
- Dry mouth: Saliva helps stop tooth decay by removing extra bacteria and food particles from your mouth. The opposite effect occurs when there is insufficient saliva and may cause bacteria to persist and erode tooth enamel.
- Overconsumption of alcohol: Alcohol abuse can have a variety of harmful effects on your health. Overconsumption of alcohol may also harm your tooth enamel by decreasing the amount of saliva that your mouth naturally produces, affecting tooth enamel in the same way as listed above. This is in addition to causing liver damage and raising your risk for developing certain types of cancer.
Enamel Erosion Warning Signs
There are many different ways that enamel erosion may show symptoms. The following are some of the key warning signs of tooth enamel erosion:
- Sensitivity: You may have enamel erosion if you experience pain or discomfort when eating or drinking certain foods or at certain temperatures.
- Discoloration: The yellowing and discoloration of teeth is frequently a sign of enamel erosion, which exposes the dentin (making teeth appear more yellow).
- Cracks or chips: Enamel erosion is evident if you’ve noticed that the edges of your teeth are jagged or rough.
- Painfully sensitive teeth: You are at a much more advanced stage of tooth enamel erosion if you are having excruciating pain when you eat sweet foods, drink hot beverages, or when you drink cold beverages.
Tips for Maintaining Strong Tooth Enamel
Can enamel on teeth be repaired? Do tooth enamel restoration techniques exist?
There are many ways to guard against enamel thinning and maintain the strength and health of your teeth.
Here are nine of the best ways to maintain strong enamel:
- Avoid consuming sugary foods and drinks.
- Consume foods high in calcium to protect your teeth’s enamel (such as dairy products).
- Avoid using a hard-bristled toothbrush or overbrushing, which can wear down enamel. Use a toothbrush with a soft head when brushing.
- Use fluoride toothpaste to prevent cavities and strengthen your teeth’s enamel.
- Seek treatment for eating disorders and chronic heartburn because they both involve stomach acid, which is particularly bad for your enamel.
Keep an eye out for any signs of dry mouth as this frequently causes loss of enamel. - If you have nighttime bruxism, wear a mouth guard (teeth grinding).
- Visit the dentist frequently to make sure your teeth are in good condition (most adults should be visiting the dentist every six months).
- Avoid consuming too much acidic food or drink (wine, lemon or apple cider vinegar drinks, etc.). If you do choose to indulge in these foods or beverages, try drinking some water right away to help wash away some of the abrasive acids that might otherwise remain on your teeth.
Visit The Goodridge Family Dentistry Today to Restore Your Smile and Rebuild Your Tooth Enamel
Contact The Goodridge Family Dentistry right away to make an appointment for a consultation about tooth enamel loss and repair or other dental concerns.
The exceptional dental services we offer at Goodridge Family Dentistry make patients feel pampered and guarantee they are receiving the best care possible. Our team of dental experts is committed to giving Chapel Hill residents the best dental care available because we believe in the transformative power of excellent dentistry.
Contact Goodridge Family Dentistry right away to find out more about the services we provide or to make an appointment at our dental office. We are eager to help you with your dental journey.