Family Dentistry Tips : Avoid These 5 Things to Protect Tooth Enamel

Wanting to learn ways to protect your tooth enamel? While the enamel on your teeth is the strongest substance in your entire body, it can wear away over time. When the enamel on your teeth begins to wear away, your teeth are no longer fully protected from the decay that can cause cavities. Since your teeth are meant to last you your entire lifetime, it really is essential that you avoid certain things in order to protect the enamel on your teeth so they will indeed last you your whole life.

Why you should protect your enamel

The reason why it is so important for everyone to protect the enamel on their teeth is because it is irreplaceable. Once the enamel on a tooth is gone, it is gone forever. A few of the symptoms that come with enamel loss include experiencing pain when eating or drinking hot or cold items, mineral loss that shows up as smooth or shiny spots on the teeth and a slight yellowing of the teeth.

Avoid these 5 things to protect your enamel

The following is a list of five things to avoid in order to help protect tooth enamel loss.

1. Eating too many sweets. Bacteria love sugar. When someone eats too many sweets, they are going to be much more susceptible to enamel loss due to the abundance of bacteria. Too many sweets also create additional acids in the mouth, which eat away at a tooth’s enamel
2. Dry mouth. Saliva plays a very important role as it helps to get rid of the harmful bacteria in the mouth that can damage the enamel. Saliva also helps balance the acids in one’s mouth, which is necessary for optimal oral health
3. Bruxism, also known as tooth grinding and tooth clenching. Grinding and/or clenching one’s teeth puts a lot of pressure on the teeth, which over time will wear down their enamel
4. Acidic items. Anything that contains a lot of acid, i.e. aspirin, vitamin c. Things that are acidic will easily stick to a tooth’s enamel, which over time will cause the enamel to erode away
5. Brushing too hard. When teeth are brushed using too much force, there is a possibility that it can damage the enamel. Brushing more gently while at the same time using a soft-bristled toothbrush is therefore recommended

Any more questions?

It really is important for you to take any and all precautions when it comes to protecting the enamel on your teeth, so that they can be healthy. If you find it difficult to avoid eating certain foods or drinks that can damage your teeth’s enamel, then a secondary choice is to fully rinse your mouth with water after eating or drinking. If you have any further questions about protecting your enamel, talk to one of our dental health professionals today.

Request an appointment here: https://holleydental.com or call Holley Family Dentistry at (757) 393-2401 for an appointment in our Portsmouth office.

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