Oral Health Link to Whole Body Health: A Blog

Oral Health Link to Whole Body Health: A Blog

Enamel Erosion Explained

Duane Kelly

The layer of enamel that covers the surface of your teeth may be thin, but it's tough enough to protect the soft pulp layer of your teeth from bacteria and prevent your teeth from being damaged from the friction that occurs when you chew and bite into hard foods. Enamel does not repair itself when it gets damaged, so it's important to protect it whenever you can by taking steps to keep your teeth healthy. When enamel erosion occurs, you can minimise the damage to your teeth by consulting with your dentist as soon as you suspect there's damage.

Causes Of Enamel Erosion

Enamel erosion can be caused by eating a diet high in sugar, as this can create an acidic environment in your mouth, and your saliva can then become corrosive to your tooth enamel. Similarly, regularly eating acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, can corrode enamel. Health conditions that cause regular bouts of vomiting also put you at greater risk of enamel erosion due to the acidic nature of vomit. Additionally, trauma to your teeth, excessively firm brushing and grinding your teeth can all erode tooth enamel.

Signs Of Enamel Erosion

Common signs of enamel erosion include sensitivity to hot and cold foods. For example, you may experience a sudden shooting pain in one or more teeth when eating ice cream or taking a sip of a hot drink. Enamel erosion can also cause your teeth to lose their brightness and appear opaque, and you may also notice fine vertical cracks on the surface of your teeth. As enamel erosion progresses, your teeth can become discoloured and stained from eating and drinking certain foods, such as coffee and dark berries. This is due to these foods coming into contact with the softer layer of your tooth that sits below the enamel.

Preventing Enamel Erosion

Enamel erosion can't be reversed, but your dentist may coat the affected teeth with a sealant to prevent bacteria from entering the soft pulp and causing an infection. You can prevent further damage to your enamel by establishing what's causing it and taking steps to rectify the cause. This may involve changing your diet to reduce sugar intake or working with your doctor to get bouts of vomiting under control. Reducing the level of bacteria in your mouth can lower the acidity in your saliva. You can do this by brushing regularly and using a tongue scraper after brushing.

Chewing gum that contains xylitol after meals can also be helpful, as xylitol is known to reduce bacteria levels in your mouth. Also, if you grind your teeth your dentist can take an impression of your teeth and have a soft mouth guard made for you to protect the surface of your teeth. Teeth grinding seems to be more common when you sleep, but you may do it when you are awake and feeling stressed. The mouth guard can be worn at any time and can help break the habit of teeth grinding.

If you're concerned about enamel erosion, contact a local dentist to learn more.


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About Me
Oral Health Link to Whole Body Health: A Blog

You may have heard that cavities and oral decay are linked to things like heart disease, and, in fact, your oral health affects your entire body. Hi! My name is Brenda, and I like to look at things holistically. Because of that, I created this blog. I plan for its posts to look at the link between dental issues and other health issues. I hope that the people who visit this blog learn a few tips about oral care as well as gaining a deeper understanding of why it's so important. Healthy smiles indicate a healthy body, and I hope this blog helps you achieve both!