What Damages Tooth Enamel?
At Pollard Dental, we are passionate about your oral health. We want to help provide knowledge about your oral health to give you the tools to recognize when something isn’t right. One common problem that we often treat are issues with tooth enamel. Tooth enamel is the outer covering of the tooth and is the strongest substance in your body. It is even stronger than your bones. However, tooth enamel isn’t indestructible and can easily become damaged when not cared for properly.
What Can Damage Tooth Enamel
Our tooth enamel experiences quite a bit of wear and tear. Not only do we use our teeth to eat numerous times throughout the day, but our teeth also have to withstand the elements when we are talking and breathing. One of the easiest ways to damage your tooth enamel is to use your teeth for something other than their intended purpose. Many people are in the habit of biting their nails or chewing on things like pen caps when nervous or deep in thought. Over time, this can lead to premature wear of the tooth enamel. It can also lead to teeth cracking and breaking. Other things that can damage your tooth enamel include:
- Not cleaning your teeth properly
- Eating frequently throughout the day
- Drinking sugary drinks
- Highly acidic foods
- Grinding and clenching
Signs Your Tooth Enamel is Damaged
The two biggest warning signs that your tooth enamel may be damaged is tooth sensitivity and tooth discomfort. Tooth sensitivity often occurs with foods and drinks that are either extremely hot or cold, such as ice cream and hot coffee. Other signs of damage to your tooth enamel are more visible, such as severe tooth discoloration, as well as cracks or chips.
If you are located in the Silverdale, WA area and feel your tooth enamel may be damaged, be sure to contact our office to schedule an appointment. We want to evaluate the state of your teeth as soon as possible to make any repairs. We want to make any repairs necessary in a timely fashion to help prevent any further damage to your teeth.
