Dental health is one of the critical issues to take into consideration. If you don’t pay attention to your dental health, you may face many dental problems. Enamel erosion is one of the common dental problems. It occurs when the hard outer layer of teeth (enamel) is worn down by acid. It can cause teeth to become sensitive, discolored, and even develop cavities. Here are some of the common reasons for enamel erosion and its treatments.
What is Tooth Enamel?
The enamel is the thin outer layer of the tooth. The primary purpose of the enamel and the reason why it is so important is that it protects the tooth from damaging substances. Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body.
Even though it is the hardest substance, tooth enamel tends to erode over time for several reasons. Enamel erosion happens when the tooth enamel wears out. As a result, you may experience some dental problems.
Enamel Erosion Symptoms
Once your tooth enamel starts to erode, you may notice some symptoms.
The first symptom of tooth enamel is feeling pain or tooth sensitivity. When the tooth enamel starts to wear out, you may feel pain or sensitivity, especially when you consume certain foods or drinks. Such foods are high in sugar foods like ice cream and candy, or drinks like acidic drinks and hot or cold beverages.
Another symptom is tooth discoloration. When enamel wears out, the dentin inside the tooth is exposed. However, the color of the dentin may have a yellowish color. That is why you may notice that your tooth changes its color from white to yellow.
Cracks are another symptom. When the enamel wears out, the tooth becomes weaker and can be cracked easily. While eating or chewing, your tooth is at risk of cracking.
Remember that if the symptoms are ignored, enamel erosion can worsen, leading to severe pain and dental problems like stained teeth or tooth decay.
Causes of Enamel Erosion
Enamel erosion can occur for many reasons.
Consuming sugary and acidic foods or drinks can cause erosion of the enamel. Drinks high in sugar and acid, like soda and fruit juice, damage the tooth enamel. Consuming too much alcohol can cause this problem since alcoholic drinks can be both acidic and sugary. Similarly, some foods high in sugar and carbohydrate, such as junk food, sweets, or even fruits, can trigger enamel damage.
Genetic factors also play an essential role in enamel erosion. Some people have thinner tooth enamel since this can run in families. Thus, they are more likely to have this dental problem.
Aging is another reason why erosion takes place. As you age, the tooth enamel begins to wear out accordingly. Attention to oral hygiene is crucial to delay enamel erosion caused by aging.
Some habits like teeth grinding and nail biting may lead to erosion of the enamel. When you grind your teeth or bite your nail, you apply pressure on tooth enamel, leading to tooth enamel wearing out and cracking over time.
A dry mouth is another cause of enamel erosion since it causes acid to build up. To avoid this problem, drink more water or try chewing sugar-free gum. Regular gum chewing can increase salivary flow.
Health issues can cause enamel erosion as well. Eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia, diabetes, and acid reflux can be the underlying reason for it.
How to Treat Enamel Erosion?
Unfortunately, tooth enamel cannot repair itself. Once it starts to erode, any damage to the tooth enamel becomes permanent. However, don’t worry. There are some dental treatments for enamel erosion repair.
For instance, if your teeth are damaged by enamel erosion, you can choose dental veneers, crowns, or fillings. In minor cases, dental fillings can help to treat erosion or problems caused by it. However, the dentist can suggest dental veneers or crowns if the tooth is severely damaged due to erosion, the dentist can suggest dental veneers or crowns. As Smile Team, we offer you these dental treatments. You can check out our website or contact us for more information.
The other treatment is tooth bonding. It is used for treating a cracked, chipped, or discolored tooth. During this treatment, the resin is applied to the damaged tooth. Thus, the enamel is protected from further damage or getting worse.
For better treatment, you can schedule a dental visit. The dentist can detect the early enamel erosion stages during dental visits or suggest the best treatment.
How to Prevent It?
First, maintaining good oral hygiene can help avoid dental problems. Brushing with a soft toothbrush and flossing your teeth at least twice a day may help prevent tooth erosion. However, be careful not to brush your teeth after you eat since it may also damage the tooth enamel. Also, make sure that your toothpaste has fluoride in it. It strengthens the tooth enamel and helps to protect the tooth from acids.
It is possible to prevent tooth erosion by paying attention to what you consume. Cutting down on consuming acidic or sugary food and drinks may help you to avoid this dental problem. If you cannot cut down on such foods and drinks, you can rinse your mouth after consuming them.
Also, you can use a straw while drinking acidic or cold beverages. Thus, your teeth will not be affected directly. Besides, you may prefer to consume foods high in calcium, like milk, cheese, or yogurt. Calcium hardens tooth enamel which helps to fight against enamel erosion.
In addition, changing some habits can help you to prevent tooth erosion. If you have a habit of biting your nails, chewing on hard foods or objects like pencils, and grinding your teeth, your tooth’s enamel is at risk of eroding. Getting rid of these habits will keep you from damaging your tooth enamel and its potential problems in the future.
Scheduling a dental appointment is another way of preventing enamel erosion. The dentist can detect potential problems during dental check-ups.
You can reach our previous article from https://smileteamturkey.com/blog/hyperdontia-causes-diagnosis-and-treatments/
