Are you suffering from tooth sensitivity, fractured teeth, or stained teeth? You might be dealing with enamel erosion. Depending on the severity of your enamel erosion, there are a lot of ways you can restore tooth enamel.
For severe enamel erosion, restorative dental treatments are your best option for replacing lost enamel and restoring the function of your tooth. Dr. Ajmo at PGA Advanced Dentistry offers a variety of restorative treatments, like dental crowns, porcelain veneers, dental bonding, or even dental implants, which can restore your teeth from enamel erosion.
What is Tooth Enamel?
Enamel is the outermost layer of the tooth structure and the hardest component in the human body. As the hardest substance in the human body, enamel serves the important function of keeping your teeth protected, when you are biting and chewing food.
It also keeps the sensitive pulp of your teeth sheltered from painful temperatures and chemicals. Even though enamel is a strong substance, that does not mean that it can withstand all the pressure human’s put it through. Enamel, like other bones in the body, is still prone to chips, cracks, and erosion.
Enamel is a translucent structure, that covers the crown, which is the area of the tooth that is visible above the gum line. The structure underneath the enamel, known as dentin, is the area of the tooth that gives it its off-white color. However, due to its translucent nature, the enamel is prone to staining.
How to Strengthen Tooth Enamel
Unfortunately, once your teeth’s enamel is eroded, there are no ways to regenerate the enamel. However, there are some lifestyle choices you can make to help strengthen your enamel. For one, maintaining healthy oral hygiene can help ensure that you do not lose excess enamel from acid erosion caused by bacteria.
Other routes you can take to protect your enamel, include taking vitamin D and calcium supplements. Vitamin D and calcium naturally promote bone growth and strengthen your teeth. Lastly, you can try brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste or using a fluoride rinse to strengthen your enamel.
How to Restore Enamel
There are several ways to restore enamel, including:
- Fluoride treatments: Fluoride is a mineral that can help to strengthen enamel and prevent decay. Your dentist may recommend fluoride treatments, such as a fluoride gel or varnish, to help restore enamel and protect teeth.
- Dental bonding: Dental bonding involves applying a tooth-colored resin to the surface of the teeth to repair chips, cracks, and other damage. Bonding can also provide tooth enamel repair and protect the teeth from further damage. Consult your dentist if you’re suffering from teeth grinding before undergoing this procedure.
- Crowns: In more severe cases of enamel erosion, a crown may be necessary to restore the tooth’s shape and function. Crowns are custom-made caps that cover the entire tooth and are designed to look and feel like natural teeth.
- Enamel remineralization: Some toothpaste and mouthwash products contain ingredients that can help to remineralize enamel and prevent tooth enamel loss. These products typically contain fluoride, calcium, and phosphate, which can help to strengthen enamel and provide tooth enamel repair.
Fluoride Treatments: How They Help Restore Enamel and Prevent Decay
Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps to repair tooth enamel by making them more resistant to acid attacks. It works by remineralizing the enamel, which helps repair tooth enamel by replacing lost minerals. Fluoride can be found in many dental products, such as toothpaste, mouthwash, and dental floss.
Fluoride treatments are simple and painless procedures that can be done by a dentist or dental hygienist. The treatment usually involves the application of a fluoride gel or varnish to the teeth using a brush or a tray placed in the mouth for a few minutes. The fluoride is absorbed into the enamel and works to repair the damaged areas of the teeth.
Benefits of Fluoride Treatment
The benefits of fluoride treatments are numerous:
- They can help reduce tooth decay and cavities risk. This is particularly important for children and teenagers who are more susceptible to decay and may not have the best oral hygiene habits.
- Fluoride treatments can help to protect against acid erosion caused by acidic foods and drinks.
- Fluoride treatments can help prevent further enamel erosion, leading to tooth sensitivity and other dental problems.
Who can Get Fluoride Treatments?
Fluoride treatments are suitable for people of all ages but are particularly recommended for those with a high risk of tooth decay or weak enamel. This includes people with a history of decay, those who consume a lot of sugary or acidic foods and drinks, those who have dry mouths or reduced saliva production, and those who are taking medication that can affect oral health.
The fluoride treatment process is quick and easy. The dentist or hygienist will first clean the teeth to remove plaque or debris. Using a brush or tray, they will then apply the fluoride gel or varnish to the teeth. After a few minutes, the fluoride is rinsed off, and the treatment is complete. Patients are usually advised to avoid eating or drinking for at least 30 minutes after the treatment to allow the fluoride to absorb the enamel fully.
Like any dental procedure, fluoride treatments have potential side effects and risks. Some people may experience mild sensitivity or discomfort after the treatment, but this usually resolves within a few days. In rare cases, some people may experience an allergic reaction to fluoride, but this is very uncommon. Speaking to your dentist if you have any concerns about the treatment is important.
Cost of Fluoride Treatments
The cost of fluoride treatments can vary depending on the location, the dental practice, and the type of treatment. In general, the cost is relatively low compared to other dental procedures, and many insurance plans cover the cost of fluoride treatments for children and teenagers.
In conclusion, fluoride treatments are an effective and safe way to repair tooth enamel and protect teeth from decay and erosion. They are a simple and painless procedure that can be done in a dental office, and they offer many benefits for people of all ages.
Maintaining good oral hygiene habits, such as brushing and flossing regularly and visiting the dentist for regular check-ups, is important to keep your teeth healthy and strong.
Main Causes of Tooth Erosion
The primary cause of enamel erosion occurs from bacteria creating acids that wear away the enamel. Enamel erosion can also result from the following factors:
- Drinking too many soft drinks. Soft drinks are high in phosphoric and citric acid, which seep through the pores in your enamel and cause corrosion.
- Drinking too many fruit drinks. Fruit drinks are high in citric acid, which can be as erosive as battery acids.
- Dry mouth. Your saliva plays an important role in washing away bacteria and keeping your teeth protected from enamel-destroying acids. Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, can lead to tooth decay because your mouth is not having a healthy salivary flow to rinse away acids.
- Acid reflux. Acid reflux, also known as GERD, along with other gastrointestinal problems can lead to premature enamel erosion from acid damage.
- Diets that are high in sugar and starches. Bacteria in your mouth feast on sugar and starches, creating an acid by-product that can eat away your enamel.
- Friction. Routine wear and tear, friction, and stress can all lead to enamel erosion. Physical wear and tear often occur from improper flossing, biting on hard objecting, or grinding your teeth at night.
How to Maintain Good Oral Health
In addition to restoring enamel, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene to prevent further erosion and repair tooth enamel. Here are some tips for maintaining good oral hygiene:
- Brush and floss regularly: Brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once daily to remove plaque and bacteria from your teeth and gums.
- Use fluoride toothpaste: Choose one that contains fluoride to help make tooth enamel healthy and provide tooth enamel repair.
- Limit acidic foods and drinks: Limit your consumption of acidic foods and drinks, such as citrus fruits and soda, which can erode enamel over time.
- Wear a mouthguard: If you grind your teeth, wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth from further damage.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help promote saliva production and protect your teeth.
- Visit your dentist regularly: Schedule regular dental check-ups and cleanings to prevent dental problems and maintain good oral health.
Restorative Dentistry for Tooth Enamel
Depending on the level of your enamel loss, there are a variety of cosmetic treatments we can use to restore the function of tooth enamel. In less severe cases, dental bonding can be used to cover sensitive teeth, while also improving the color of the teeth.
For significant enamel loss, we will most likely recommend porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns, for even more significant damage. Porcelain crowns restore the function and beauty of your teeth by completely encapsulating them with a tooth-like structure made from porcelain. On the other hand, porcelain veneers only restore the front outer shell of the teeth for a more aesthetic restoration.
Do You Want to Know How to Restore Enamel?
Want to learn more on how to stop enamel decay with restorative dental treatments at PGA Advanced Dentistry? Call us today at 561-627-8666.