One of the primary dental health problems is tooth enamel loss. It happens over time. It is often related to poor dental hygiene, and can result in the loss of teeth as well as pervasive dental carries (cavities).
According to WebMD, tooth enamel is a protective layer of tissue that hardens the exterior of the tooth and shields the inner tissues, which are more vulnerable. Tooth enamel loss exposes those underlying tissues and provides bacteria with access to dentin.
Fortunately, there are ways to prevent tooth enamel loss, even if it has already begun.
See your dentist regularly. A thorough cleaning and inspection of your teeth can prevent numerous problems associated with tooth enamel loss. Dentists can detect erosion more quickly than the patient, and can take steps to prevent further deterioration. Furthermore, a deep cleaning scrubs the surface of the teeth, removing plaque.
Avoid acidic foods. Acid is naturally destructive, so you can prevent tooth enamel loss by minimizing acidic foods in your diet. Citrus, for example, is high in acid, as are other sour foods. Avoid sweets with sour layers as well.
Limit sugar in your diet. While it is impossible to eliminate sugar entirely, it is important to eat a low-sugar diet if you want to prevent tooth enamel loss. Bacteria thrives more readily in an environment where sugar is available, and therefore causes more erosion and dental carries.
See your doctor. Health problems unrelated to the mouth and teeth can contribute to tooth enamel loss. For example, according to a study published by the National Institute of Health, acid reflux disease (GERD) can cause significant tooth erosion because of the acid coming back up into the mouth.
Brush your teeth daily. Twice a day, ideally. Brushing your teeth keeps your mouth in a healthy condition between the more thorough cleanings administered by your dentist. It removes food particles from the teeth so they are not permitted to contribute to tooth enamel loss.
Don’t brush too hard. Vigorous brushing has also been linked to tooth erosion. If you are too rough with your teeth, you will gradually thin the enamel, resulting in vulnerabilities. Your dentist can show you how to brush effectively and offer recommendations for tooth brushes that might help solve the problem.
Drink through a straw. WebMD recommends drinking sugary or acidic beverages through a straw. This directs the fluid directly from its container to the back of your mouth, hopefully bypassing your teeth. This means less contact with harmful substances, which results in less tooth erosion.
Chew gum or drink water. If you suffer from dry mouth, you might have a harder time preventing tooth enamel loss. Saliva works against the destructive impact of acid and sugar, neutralizing the problem and washing the teeth clean. Chewing gum or drinking water can help increase saliva production.
There are no fool-proof ways to prevent tooth enamel loss, but you can decrease your vulnerability by eating a healthy diet and paying attention to dental hygiene. It is also extremely important to have cavities filled as soon as possible so the decay does not spread to surrounding teeth.
