Enamel is at the core of maintaining strong teeth. The hard outer layer protects your smile from a variety of issues including discoloration, sensitivity, and decay. But what happens when enamel begins to weaken? Learn more about the effects of tooth enamel loss, what you can do about it, and if it’s possible to repair weakened enamel.
What is Tooth Enamel?
Tooth enamel is the hard, outer layer that protects your teeth from damage and decay. This outermost shield protects the tooth dentin and pulp, the underlying layers of the teeth.
Despite being the hardest substance in the human body, tooth enamel can become damaged or eroded over time, leading to tooth sensitivity, discoloration, and other dental problems.
Tooth enamel is primarily made up of calcium and phosphorous and has a semi-translucent appearance. The dentin layer underneath can vary in color and when paired with enamel, it creates the unique shade of your smile.
What is Tooth Density?
Tooth enamel is made up of microscopic minerals, and like bones, your teeth can lose density over time. This can lead to tooth decay and even tooth loss.
If not properly brushing or flossing, the enamel density of your teeth can erode. Additionally, acidic foods and sugars can also contribute to enamel erosion and structural density.
What Causes Tooth Enamel Loss?
Tooth enamel helps protect your smile as you go about your day. From acids and plaque bacteria or biting, chewing, and even grinding, this hard outer layer is crucial in maintaining the strength of your teeth.
However, enamel loss and erosion can occur leaving you more susceptible to sensitivity and tooth decay. Common causes of tooth enamel loss include:
Acidic Foods and Drinks: Consuming foods and drinks that are high in acid, such as citrus fruits, soda, and sports drinks, can wear away tooth enamel over time. Acidic substances soften the enamel and make it more susceptible to erosion.
Sugary Foods and Drinks: When plaque builds up on your teeth, it can produce acid that eats away at the enamel, leading to decay. A diet high in sugars increases this risk. When plaque bacteria come into contact with sugars it produces acid which eats away at enamel resulting in cavities on the teeth.
Poor Oral Hygiene: Brushing twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing at least once a day can help strengthen teeth while also removing harmful plaque bacteria.
Genetics: Some people are more prone to tooth enamel loss due to genetic factors. Conditions such as enamel hypoplasia and amelogenesis imperfecta affect the development of teeth.
Causes of Tooth Surface Erosion
Aside from oral hygiene and diet, there are other extrinsic factors that can cause enamel to weaken or erode. Additional factors that can damage the tooth enamel include:
Tooth Grinding: Grinding (bruxism) or clenching your teeth can put significant pressure on the enamel, leading to wear and tear over time.
Dry Mouth: Saliva helps to neutralize acid and remineralize the enamel. When you have dry mouth, there isn't enough saliva to protect your teeth, leading to enamel erosion.
Digestive Issues: Chronic acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can have a negative impact on tooth enamel. Other health conditions that can cause frequent vomiting also affect enamel. That’s because stomach acids can damage the enamel causing it to weaken and erode.
What are the Signs of Tooth Enamel Erosion?
Tooth enamel loss can weaken your smile and leave you more susceptible to oral health issues such as decay and sensitivity. The common symptoms of enamel erosion to watch out for include:
Tooth sensitivity when consuming hot or cold foods and drinks
Tooth staining and discoloration
Visible cracks and chips in the tooth
Toothache and pain
If you’re experiencing signs of tooth enamel loss, visit your dental professional right away for proper diagnosis and treatment.
How to Prevent Enamel Loss?
Once enamel is gone it cannot regrow. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help strengthen your enamel and keep it from eroding in the first place.
In addition to a good oral hygiene routine, more tips to help keep enamel loss at bay and prevent enamel erosion from getting worse can include:
Use a Straw: When consuming acidic beverages, use a straw. The liquid is forced to the back of your mouth by the straw, away from your teeth.
Consume Dairy: A glass of milk or some cheese might be used to round off a meal. This will neutralize acids.
Watch Snacking: The likelihood of tooth decay rises when people snack frequently. A few hours after consuming foods high in sugar and carbohydrates, the mouth becomes acidic. If you can't clean your teeth and rinse your mouth, avoid munching.
Chew Sugar-free Gum: Between meals, chew sugar-free gum. Gum chewing increases saliva production by up to ten times the average rate. Saliva contains essential elements that help build teeth. Make sure to choose sugar-free gum that contains xylitol, which has been found to lessen the acidity of foods and beverages.
Hydrate: If your saliva production is poor or your mouth is dry, drink more water throughout the day.
Brush with Fluoride: Use fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride strengthens teeth, so make sure fluoride is listed as an ingredient in your toothpaste.
Use a Soft-bristled Toothbrush: Try not to brush too hard. And wait at least an hour to brush after you've had acidic foods or drinks. They soften the enamel and make it more prone to damage from your toothbrush.
Types of Toothpaste to Help with Enamel Loss
The ADA recommends brushing with a fluoride toothpaste twice daily for 2minutes each session. But there are toothpaste options available that can help fortify weakened enamel and even rebuild tooth density.
Oral-B Densify Toothpaste is a first-of-its-kind toothpaste, that actively rebuilds tooth density by re-mineralizing enamel every time you brush to extend the life of your teeth. Additional benefits include:
Actively rebuilds tooth density to extend the life of teeth
Helps stop early stage cavities
Helps protect enamel against future density loss
Enamel Care
To help protect and restore your enamel be sure to follow a complete oral hygiene routine of:
Brush teeth twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste like Oral-B Densify Toothpaste, it helps increase tooth enamel density every time you brush to maintain your teeth in good condition. To further protect enamel and gums, especially from overbrushing, switch to an electric toothbrush like the Oral-B iO Series which removes 100% more plaque than a manual while also helping to maintaining the condition of your gums.
Floss at least once a day to remove food particles and plaque. Pair standard string floss with the Oral-B AquaCare Cordless Irrigator with Oxyjet Technology which features customizable intensities to help remove debris and leftover food particles.
Be sure to see your dentist every six months for professional cleanings and checkups.
Tooth Enamel FAQs
Can tooth enamel grow back?
Once gone, tooth enamel cannot grow back. Fortunately, you can strengthen weakened enamel and prevent enamel erosion from occurring in the first place by practicing a through oral hygiene routine.
Does plaque cause enamel erosion?
Plaque bacteria creates acids that eat away at the tooth’s enamel. To limit the harmful effects of plaque bacteria, make sure to brush twice daily for 2 minutes and floss at least once a day.
How do I know if my enamel is gone?
Once enamel starts to wear away you may notice a more yellowish hue to your smile and sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks. Another sign of enamel loss is a change to the shape of your teeth, they may begin to take on a more rounded appearance, develop cracks or indents, and gaps between teeth become larger.
Why do my teeth look see-through?
A common symptom of enamel loss is translucent-looking teeth. When enamel wears away, the dentin layer underneath becomes exposed.
How do dentists treat enamel loss?
Restorative or protective dentistry is often used to help lessen the effects of enamel loss. A dental professional may recommend a crown or veneer to better protect the tooth from further erosion and decay.
From Oral-B, the #1 toothbrush brand used by dentists worldwide.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/enamel-erosion
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tooth-enamel-erosion-restoration
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