Tooth enamel can withstand a lot, but it is also easily damaged in many ways. How does enamel protect your teeth?
Tooth enamel works much like an eggshell. It protects the soft, vulnerable parts inside the tooth.
But unlike an eggshell, enamel is thinner and “tougher”. In fact, enamel is the most resilient tissue in the body. It can “hold up” through decades of chewing, biting and gnawing, provided, of course, that the enamel is of good quality and the teeth are properly cared for.
What makes teeth white?
Enamel looks very white, but in fact it is the dentin just beneath the enamel that determines how white your teeth are. Enamel is a very hard, slightly translucent layer. Over time, coffee, tea, wine, tobacco and other substances can “stain” the enamel, making it dull, yellow or gray.
From enamel erosion to holes in your teeth
Although enamel is very hard and very strong, that does not mean it cannot be destroyed. Acids from food and bacteria can slowly “eat away” at enamel, causing enamel erosion and creating cavities. Enamel can also chip and crack. And unlike bone, enamel cannot repair itself, which means the damage is permanent.
Tooth decay and sensitive teeth
What happens when enamel is damaged? The layers just beneath it are quickly damaged too, leading to tooth decay. Cavities are not the only problem. When enamel is damaged, teeth become sensitive to “extreme” temperatures. For example, eating ice cream or drinking a cup of hot coffee can cause sharp pain and discomfort.
How do bacteria destroy enamel?
After you eat, certain bacteria in your mouth “throw a party”, feasting on the sugars from sweet and starchy foods. This “party” produces acids that destroy enamel. The acids in soda, fruit juice and other drinks are harmful too; some are even harder on enamel than battery acid. Over time, these acids erode the enamel and “shrink” your teeth. Wine tasters are most at risk. Why? Because sipping wine many times a day and swishing it around the mouth increases the contact between acid and enamel. That is why it is better to drink wine, soda or sweet tea with a meal rather than sipping it for hours.
Problems related to digestive disorders
Conditions that cause vomiting or acid reflux can harm tooth enamel. When stomach acid comes back up into the mouth, it can even destroy enamel. Illnesses that cause frequent vomiting, and digestive problems that lead to eating disorders, harm the teeth in the same way.
The problem with dry mouth
If you have a dry mouth, as a side effect of medication or because of an illness, acid “lingers” in the mouth longer and erodes the enamel. The only remedy is to take extra minerals to strengthen your enamel.
Teeth grinding
Another cause of enamel damage is grinding your teeth in your sleep. Over time, the constant clenching and grinding wears down the enamel. Grinding your teeth in your sleep is a bad habit you cannot control, so reducing stress is the best approach. Otherwise, you can wear a night guard while you sleep.
Your mouth is not a bottle opener
Your mom was right: never open bottles, packages or anything else with your teeth. Doing so can chip or crack your enamel.
Chewing on pens, biting your nails or cracking melon seeds with your teeth… does the same kind of damage. Children and enamel erosion: many experts believe enamel erosion is on the rise, especially in children. Why? According to some experts, it is because children drink a lot of acidic drinks and soda. Drinks that do not come from the tap (bottled water) often contain little protective fluoride, which is another reason enamel erosion is increasing.
Tips to fight enamel erosion
There are simple ways to reduce enamel erosion. Brush your teeth after eating or drinking. Use a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. You can also drink milk or eat a little cheese after a meal to help neutralize acids.
Finally, chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol after meals also helps boost saliva production.