- What is tooth enamel made of?
- How tooth enamel functions
- Daily threats to your tooth enamel
- Five daily habits that provide tooth enamel protection
- See your dentist at the first sign of enamel trouble
Here is a fun fact about tooth enamel you might not have known: Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, even harder than bone.
Here is another fact that may surprise you: Even though tooth enamel is the body’s hardest substance, it cannot repair itself once damaged.
It is true. Almost every other part of your body can heal itself to varying degrees, depending on the condition or injury. However, as there are no blood vessels in tooth enamel, and thus no way to supply it with healing nutrients, compromised enamel cannot be healed without intervention from dental professionals.
Protecting your tooth enamel is one of the most effective ways to maintain your smile and ensure optimal oral health for years to come. The best part is that maintaining strong enamel and preventing cavities is really not difficult at all.
What is tooth enamel made of?
Tooth enamel’s exceptional hardness comes from its high mineral content, which accounts for 96 percent of its composition. These minerals, mainly calcium and phosphorus, form strong hydroxyapatite crystallites that provide a protective barrier against daily wear and tear, fracture, acids, and bacteria. The tightly packed microscopic crystallites give your tooth enamel qualities that make it even harder than steel.
About four percent of tooth enamel is water, which helps maintain the enamel’s structural integrity, while approximately one percent is made up of protein that supports tooth enamel’s formation and function.
How tooth enamel functions
In essence, tooth enamel protects against bacteria and acid attacks that can affect the soft tissue underneath, known as dentin. It also insulates the dentin from extreme temperatures, such as when you drink a hot beverage or breathe in frosty air in sub-zero weather, and helps protect the dentin from the immense pressure generated during chewing. Its resilience allows the crown of your teeth to endure thousands of chewing cycles over the course of a lifetime.
The thickness of enamel varies across your teeth. Essentially, it is thickest where your teeth see the most wear and tear, such as on the cusp of your molars, and thinner in other areas, including where the visible crown meets the tooth root.
Daily threats to your tooth enamel
Tooth enamel is designed to withstand the daily rigours of eating and drinking, helping to keep our teeth strong and healthy. Here are a few of the regular attacks tooth enamel must withstand:
Acid attacks from both bacteria and food
The bacteria naturally present in your mouth feed on the sugars in the food and drinks you consume, producing an acid that can dissolve the minerals in your teeth and wear them away, a condition known as tooth erosion. The more sugar you consume, the more cavity-causing acid your mouth produces.
Additionally, acids that exist in citrus fruits, sports drinks, soda, wine, and other products can weaken the enamel, especially if you expose your teeth to them on a regular basis.
Physical wear from tooth grinding and jaw clenching
Tooth grinding, also known as bruxism, and jaw clenching can cause more damage to your teeth than you might think. The repeated pressure of grinding and clenching can wear down enamel, flatten biting surfaces, and even create microcracks where bacteria can enter to attack the dentin.
Abrasion from aggressive brushing
If you brush your teeth too hard or use a hard-bristled toothbrush, you may be physically wearing down your enamel, increasing your tooth sensitivity and the risk of decay. Brushing too hard can also lead to gum recession.
Age-related enamel wear
Although enamel is tough enough to withstand everyday use, it eventually wears down naturally. The repeated cycle of chewing, brushing, and exposure to food and drink over the course of decades will cause enamel to become thin and potentially lead to oral health problems.
Five daily habits that provide tooth enamel protection
If you are wondering how to protect tooth enamel from damage, here are five daily habits you can quickly and easily adopt to help you achieve optimal enamel health:
- Employing proper brushing technique with fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride helps rebuild lost minerals in the enamel and inhibits the development of acids, making the enamel more resistant to acid attacks that cause cavities.
- Using a soft-bristled toothbrush will protect your teeth against abrasion. You can even take it a step further and use an electric toothbrush that sounds an alarm if you press too hard against your teeth.
- You might be tempted to brush your teeth immediately after eating to remove acids, but waiting 30 – 60 minutes is a better solution. Brushing too soon can actually push acids deeper into your enamel, increasing the risk of tooth decay.
- Drinking water throughout the day helps wash away the acids that will attack your tooth enamel. Water also supports saliva production. Saliva neutralizes acids, raises the pH levels in your mouth, and provides essential minerals to rebuild enamel, a process called remineralization.
- Chewing sugar-free gum after meals stimulates saliva production, which helps support enamel health. Additionally, it can potentially reduce the desire for sweets, keeping your sugar intake low and protecting your enamel from harm.
See your dentist at the first sign of enamel trouble
Your enamel will let you know if it needs help from your dentist. That is why, at the first sign of enamel loss symptoms such as increased tooth sensitivity, teeth that appear yellow, rough or irregular tooth edges, small chips or cracks, or any other dental concerns, you should make an appointment right away.
At Yonge Eglinton Dental, we offer several strategies to help strengthen and protect tooth enamel, including fluoride treatments, dental sealants, thorough cleanings to remove plaque, custom-fitted mouthguards to protect against nighttime tooth grinding, and more.
Your enamel will not repair itself when damaged, so give it its best chance of protecting your oral health by contacting our dental team today!
Strengthen tooth enamel and enjoy tooth enamel damage prevention with help from the dental experts at Yonge Eglinton Dental in Toronto
Contact our dental health team when you are ready to optimize your oral health. We will work together to ensure your teeth and gums look great and are as strong and healthy as possible. Make an appointment for an office visit today by calling our office at 416-932-2222 or booking online. We look forward to seeing you!
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