Taking care of your teeth is part of maintaining your overall health and hygiene, and it can help avoid problematic issues later on in life. One of the challenges that is common for most of us is enamel erosion over time, which can accelerate or expedite the process of dental problems.

Protecting your enamel is important to address, particularly as we get older, but can be slowed down or prevented if addressed early-on. In this article, we’ll go over what enamel is and what it does for your teeth. It is especially important to understand what you can do on a daily basis to preserve your tooth enamel, so we’ll be sure to offer some tips and suggestions on how you can achieve optimal results.

What is Tooth Enamel?

Tooth enamel is a naturally occurring mineral in your teeth that helps protect teeth from corrosion, decay, which can lead to cavities if we’re not careful. Enamel naturally erodes over time as it is exposed to highly acidic or sugary foods. This is problematic for a number of reasons: it can lead to cavities, it can cause tooth decay, and it can lead to expensive dental procedures that could otherwise be avoided with routine care and hygiene habits.

How Can You Build Your Tooth Enamel?

Tooth enamel cannot be re-built, contrary to popular belief; however, it can be preserved and strengthened by taking care of your teeth and utilizing appropriate products and routines that contribute to enamel protection. Here are some of the most helpful ways to strengthen and protect your tooth enamel:

• Regular Brushing Routines – You’ve heard it many times; brushing your teeth regularly is an important part of daily routine that can keep your teeth healthy and well-protected from decay and complications. When we let acidic and sugary foods remain on our teeth, particularly in hard-to-reach crevices, they corrode the mineral makeup of the tooth, known as the enamel. This leaves your teeth susceptible to cavities and other issues. Therefore, brushing is an extremely important part of protecting your tooth enamel.
• Use Products Containing Fluoride – Fluoride is found in many different types of toothpastes and mouth washes; its main function is to protect tooth enamel by re-mineralizing the teeth on a constant basis. This means that it combats the effects of acid and sugar in foods that take a toll on your tooth enamel. It’s important to speak to your dentist before making any decisions on what types of products you should use.
• Cut Down on Sugary and Acidic Foods – As we’ve mentioned, sugary and acidic foods speed up the process of demineralization on your teeth, otherwise known as enamel corrosion. By cutting down on foods such as candy, acidic fruits and juices, etc., you can continue to protect your tooth enamel and prevent decay.
• Take Supplements – Since enamel is made up of minerals such as calcium, it’s important to ensure that your diet supports enamel protection. Calcium and phosphate supplements can help protect your enamel on an internal level. Again, it’s important to discuss your options with your dentist and doctor before making any changes to your dietary routines.
• Stay Hydrated – Saliva is an important aspect of combatting enamel corrosion, which can greatly be helped by keeping yourself hydrated. Proper water intake is helpful for many different aspects of your health, including maintaining your tooth enamel and preventing against decay or cavity occurrences.
• Attend Regular Dental Check-Ups – Of course, staying on top of your routine dental check-ups can help you remain aware of how your teeth are holding up as years pass, as well as give you more information on how to protect your teeth. Attending regular dental check-ups and cleanings is important to avoid expensive, invasive procedures to remedy the effects of enamel demineralization such as root canals and dental implants.

How We Can Help You

At the Dental Group of Simi Valley, we believe that education about healthy dental practices is one of the most important elements of preventive care. Learning how to protect your tooth enamel is critical; it can keep your teeth healthy much longer and avoid unnecessary dental procedures later. To learn more about how we can help you improve your dental care or offer solutions to demineralization, please feel free to contact one of our helpful associates today.