How Do I Protect & Strengthen My Tooth Enamel?

At Dental Solutions of Avon/Indy, our patients often ask us how to best take care of their teeth. We love it when our patients ask us questions as it gives a chance to educate them and help ensure their teeth stay healthy and strong.

One of the more frequent topics we’re asked about is tooth enamel, so today we want to talk about what you can do to preserve and strengthen your enamel.

What Is Enamel?

Your enamel is the protective outer coating on your tooth that acts as a shield. It’s the hardest surface in your body and made up mostly of minerals. Enamel protects your teeth from decay and helps insulate the sensitive inner layers of teeth.

Unlike other parts of your body, like your bones, enamel does not regenerate. For this reason, it’s important to care for your enamel since once it is gone, you cannot produce any more. Many factors affect the strength of your enamel, from genetics to your diet.

How Do I Protect My Enamel?

Luckily, there are a few simple things you can do to protect your tooth enamel:

• Avoid foods that are high in added sugar and acid, as these substances mix with the bacteria in your mouth to form harmful acids that wear away your enamel.
• Hard foods can crack or chip your enamel, so use caution when biting down on hard candy or ice cubes. Never use your teeth to open packaging!
• Brush your teeth correctly by gently brushing for 2 minutes twice daily. If you brush too vigorously in an effort to finish quickly, you will damage your enamel!

How Do I Strengthen My Enamel?

Fluoride is one of your secret weapons when it comes to strengthening your enamel. Fluoride helps make your tooth enamel resistant to demineralization, a process during which your enamel loses strength and becomes more vulnerable to cavities. At your next visit, ask Dr. Sitaram if he recommends using a mouthwash and toothpaste that contain fluoride or undergoing fluoride treatments to help keep your teeth strong.

To ask our friendly team any other questions about protecting your enamel or to schedule you next appointment, call us today!