Enamel is the hard coating on your teeth and naturally wears down over time. There are some causes which accelerate its loss. Tooth enamel loss treatments exist to remediate issues that appear. Knowing the causes of tooth enamel loss, so you can avoid them before they inflict tooth damage, is the best approach to ensuring the enamel’s longevity.
The exceptional team at Columbia Smiles is led by Dr. Michael Hsu. Contact Columbia Smiles at 410.690.4855 for all your general dentistry needs.
Common Causes of Tooth Enamel Loss
What causes tooth enamel loss? The number one answer is poor dental hygiene. Too many people neglect proper oral healthcare routines. Twice a year visits to the dentist are a core part of taking care of your teeth. Yet arguably, what you do between dental visits is just as important for the protection of your enamel and avoidance of its loss. Brushing and flossing at least twice daily is a necessary part of any oral healthcare routine. A few more causes of tooth enamel loss are described below.
1. Sugary Drinks
Sugary drinks are a major culprit when it comes to enamel loss. Soda, in particular, should be avoided as it contains a combination of high sugar and carbonation. The combo of sugar and carbon forms an acid in the mouth that attacks enamel and wears it away.
Other sugary drinks to be wary of are juices high in citric acid. Orange juice and apple juice are two common examples of juices with high citric acid content. These juices are a much healthier drink than sodas, so you may not need to ban them from your diet altogether. Instead, consider rinsing your mouth with water afterward to wash away the acid that would otherwise linger in your mouth and eat away at your enamel.
2. Sugary Foods
Sugary foods attack tooth enamel. Mouth bacteria love to gobble up the sugars in candy and sweets. This bacterial activity also causes the enamel on your teeth to wear down. Eating lots of sugary foods and failing to upkeep an oral hygiene routine is an incredibly bad combination for your teeth.
3. Alcohol Consumption
One benefit of your saliva is that it neutralizes bacterial acids and protects teeth from decay. Drinking alcohol, especially in large amounts, reduces saliva and paves the way for bacteria to cause havoc in your mouth. The more frequent and prolonged reduction in saliva equates to a greater risk to your teeth.
4. Grinding Teeth
As many as ten percent of the population is affected by bruxism, which is grinding teeth. For most people, this occurs at night while they sleep. The constant grinding on the teeth eventually wears down the enamel coating.
5. Acid Reflux
Acid reflux is another problem that affects many people. This condition causes stomach acid to rise back up into the mouth. Stomach acid is particularly caustic and can wear away enamel over time.
Tooth Enamel Loss Treatment at Columbia Smiles
Columbia Smiles is here to support you with a wide range of tooth enamel loss treatments. Losing enamel doesn’t mean you will necessarily lose your teeth. The sooner enamel loss is identified, the sooner a fix can be put into place. Some of the most common tooth enamel loss treatment options are:
- Fillings
- Crowns
- Dental bonding treatment
- Veneers
Dental bonding treatment is a type of tooth repair where a tooth-colored resin is applied to an area with little or no enamel. The bonding essentially takes the place of the enamel that was lost over time. It is often a quicker, more affordable option than crowns or veneers, as both crowns and veneers require customized manufacturing to fit your teeth. Dental bonding treatments, on the other hand, are like patches that a dentist shapes to fit the affected area.
Discover more about tooth enamel loss treatment options when you contact Dr. Michael Hsu and the Columbia Smiles team at 410.690.4855.
