What Can Damage Your Tooth Enamel
Do you know what the strongest substance in your body is? You may be surprised to learn it is your tooth enamel, which is the outer covering of your teeth. Your tooth enamel is even harder than your bones. The enamel of your teeth protects the dentin, which is found inside your teeth. Tooth enamel also helps protect your teeth from daily use, including chewing and biting. Although tooth enamel is strong, it is not indestructible and can become damaged when you don’t care for your teeth properly.
What Causes Damage to Tooth Enamel
Although tooth enamel can withstand quite a bit of pressure and use, there are things that can cause serious damage:
Highly Acidic Foods
Foods and drinks such as carbonated drinks, citrus fruits, berries and apples have high acid content. When consumed frequently, it can cause damage to the tooth enamel.
Grinding and Clenching Teeth
One of the biggest culprits of damage to the teeth is clenching and grinding. Many patients do this at night and are unaware. If this continues and is left untreated, the teeth will eventually crack and break from the added pressure.
Foods with High Sugar Content
When sugar is continuously on the teeth, it will begin to eat away at the enamel leading to tooth decay. This is also found to occur when patients snack frequently throughout the day.
Cleaning Your Teeth Incorrectly
If you do not clean your teeth properly, you can cause lasting damage to your enamel. This is true if you clean your teeth in a rough manner using vigorous strokes. It is also true if teeth are not brushed well enough to remove lingering food and tooth decay develops.
Signs Your Tooth Enamel is Damaged
One of the biggest signs your tooth enamel is damaged or compromised is tooth sensitivity. You may experience tooth sensitivity when eating foods or drinking beverages that are extremely hot or cold. Severe discoloration in your teeth is another warning sign your enamel is damaged. The most obvious sign your enamel is damaged is discomfort and pain in the mouth.
If you feel your tooth enamel may be compromised or damaged, be sure to contact our office located in Spotswood, NJ. We want to evaluate the state of your teeth as soon as possible to make any repairs. Delaying treatment can lead to more serious treatments such as a root canal or even tooth extraction. We want to avoid that at all costs, so we recommend being diligent with scheduling an appointment.
